By Tony Sullivan

“Sir, we found a prayer journal at our gate at the airport. We were sure it belonged to you.” The words were spoken by an airline employee to Joe Guthrie, minister of the Golden Isle Christian Church in Brunswick, Georgia. 

Joe, a tent-making preacher for many years, does a lot of flying out of the airport in Jacksonville, Florida. Many people who worked there saw Joe reading over his prayer journal and praying for those whose names are recorded in the book. So when they found the journal on a seat, they knew it had to belong to Joe.

Joe is a strong prayer warrior. He prays for every name in his journal, every day. At last count there were 335 names in the journal. 

Intercessory Prayer Is Powerful

Joe’s daily prayers are intercessory prayers—prayers said on the behalf of others. This what Abraham did for the nation of Sodom. It is what Jesus was doing when he said to Peter, “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I prayed for you, that your faith will not fail” (Luke 22:31, 32, New American Standard Bible).

Intercessory prayer is praying for the sick. It is lifting up the name of someone who is falling back into sin. It is the prayer of leaders praying for the congregation they serve to remain faithful and true. It is you praying for me and me praying for you.

We Need More Intercessory Prayer Today

Christians need to pray for each other. We need to stop our faultfinding and start praying. We need to pray for those who are in leadership. We need to pray for our national leaders. We need to pray for our nation just as Daniel did in our text. We need to lift up God’s name in a prayer of praise and confession, seeking forgiveness for our sins. And then pray for everyone we can until Jesus comes again. Intercessory prayer will change
people. 

Tony Sullivan is the evangelist of the Lester Road Christian Church in Fairburn, Georgia. He has also served as an associate evangelist with the Christian Restoration Association in Mason, Ohio for 20 years. He and his wife, Suzanne, have two married sons and seven grandchildren.