Has anyone asked you to pray for them lately?
Earlier today, I sent a quick text to a buddy, asking him to pray for an opportunity I’m hoping will materialize. I reached out to this friend in particular because over the last months, I’ve been praying for God to use him and his story to encourage other men who’ve been through similar experiences.
I am grateful for the chance we have to pray for each other. One word for this kind of prayer is intercession. Often, our intercessions result from us realizing we cannot do what we want to do for them. We know that only God can work in a specific way or area, so we come to God on their behalf.
I love what Richard Foster says about intercession. "If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, which will lead us to prayer. Intercession is a way of loving others."
There are limits to what you can do for the people you love. You are not God. Therefore, you go to God on their behalf. We pray for the people we love first and foremost by letting God know that we love them and that we've reached our limit of what we can do for them.
I thought about my experience in intercession when I first heard Hope Darst’s new song, “Mighty Name of Jesus.” The song focused on applying the name and power of Jesus to life’s most difficult circumstances and on behalf of the people who are most important to us.
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In an interview with Christian Family Radio, Darst talked about the unique process for writing her song, “The Mighty Name of Jesus” “I never wrote a song this way before, pacing back and forth, praying the lyrics. I wanted every lyric of the song to be rooted in Scripture because that’s where the power is. Scripture is alive and active. It cuts through the darkness - it cuts through fear.”
After listening to the song a few times, I can confidently write that Darst delivered on her goal with this new song. The chorus is one of many places in the song where we see this goal achieved.
“In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray
Calling on the power of Heaven, I proclaim (I proclaim)
Every weapon formed against me, must break
In the mighty name of Jesus”
This section of the chorus echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah, in chapter 54. “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
The title of the song echoes the words of Peter standing before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4. There he declared, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Darst’s song continually reiterates the power of Jesus at work in our lives. Because no weapon formed against God can succeed, that same power is available to us through our relationship with Jesus. The name of Jesus is not merely powerful in the entire world; His power is present in our lives to save us. Darst later echoes Psalm 21’s reminder that “evil schemes will never succeed” when she writes about the victory of Jesus over the schemes of the devil.
It’s often difficult to pray for those you love or for overwhelming circumstances in our lives. We aren’t sure what to say or perhaps we’ve spoken all the words we know to utter. This is the genius of “Mighty Name of Jesus.” The song reminds us that there’s no better words to pray than the words of Scripture.
When we pray the words and promises of God that we find in Scripture back to God in prayer, we’re reminding God of what He has spoken and the promises He has made. We’re seeking the fulfillment of those promises and agreeing with what God has already said. This kind of faith invites God’s response and positions us to be benefit from His powerful and compassionate response.
The next time your family is struggling and you’re interceding to God on their behalf, play “Mighty Name of Jesus” and keep praying. Trust God’s word to cut through the darkness and fear, showing you the way to hope and trust in the One who always keeps His promises.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s popular devotion, How to Pray for the People You Love, today.
