November 20, 2025
Intercessory Prayer: What Is It, How Do You Do It and How Older Adults Can Participate
According to data published by Pew Research Center, only around 44% of Americans say they pray every day. In 2007, that number was close to 60%, so the prayer landscape in the country is definitely sliding. Older adults of faith who want to contribute to more prayer in their communities might start by being leaders when it comes to intercessory prayer. Whether you're making a home in an independent living or assisted living community, you can engage in this powerful form of prayer.
What Is Intercessory Prayer?
Intercessory prayer is a specific type of prayer that focuses on bringing the needs of other people before God. Often, individual communication with God leans heavily on the needs, thoughts and faith journey of the person praying. This intimate discussion of your needs, wants, fears, emotions and actions with God is good and biblical, but the Bible also calls God’s children to intercessory prayer.
In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people…”
When you engage in intercessory prayer, you:
- Pray for other people. You can pray in this way for anyone else, including family, friends, leaders in your community, caregivers and providers or people you barely know or have only heard about. The Bible even notes that you can pray for your enemies.
- Bring specific needs to God. Powerful intercessory prayer is often specific. For example, if you know that a niece is struggling with drinking, you might specifically pray that God would send sober support into her life in a way that she can recognize and respond to.
- Stand in the gap for others. Romans 8:26-27 recognized that we don’t always know how to pray for ourselves and that the Spirit “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” When you let the Spirit lead you into intercessory prayer, you are praying along with that will and become part of the process of taking requests to God that someone else may not be able to take themselves.
6 Steps to Intercessory Prayer
Ready to step into your role as a prayer warrior? Start with the steps below.
1. Prepare for Productive Prayer
Prayer looks different for everyone. Take some time to figure out how you pray best. Do you need a quiet space and some time to reflect on God’s word first? Are you more focused when you write out your prayers? Does praying alongside others help you?
Consider whatever works best for you and how you can create a consistent intercessory prayer routine around it. Perhaps you start with a cup of tea and a Bible reading. Or you might invite like-minded friends to join you in corporate prayer once a week.
2. Ask God to Guide You
Start by talking to God about your desire to pray for others. Acknowledge that he knows every need better than you, and ask him to guide you in what to pray for.
3. Gather Prayer Needs
Keep a running list of prayer needs and people you want to pray for to help direct your prayers. You might create a prayer board you can use as a visual reminder of prayer requests.
4. Pray With Confidence
Believe that God hears you and is working out his plan for you and everyone you pray for. Pray with peace that everything is in his hands.
5. Record Requests
Consider keeping a list or journal of what you pray for. When you look back over requests and see how God has moved on them, it can bolster your faith for future prayers.
6. Let Others Know You Prayed for Them
If applicable and appropriate, mention to others that you prayed for them. Knowing someone is taking your needs to God can be comforting.
