IM · Spiritual formation for intercessors

Intercessors’ Mistakes

The common mistakes most intercessors often make—and the biblical wisdom that keeps the intercessor close to God, compassionate toward people, and faithful to the true assignment.

Intercession is not always execution

Attempting to execute every burden you are called to carry.

Many intercessors forget that they were called first to intercede and then move immediately into an attempt to execute. The grace to intercede is different from the grace to execute. An intercessor may clearly see a problem, feel its weight, and receive insight about it without being the person appointed to organize, confront, lead, fund, or physically carry out the solution.

This does not mean that God will never call an intercessor to act. At times He will. The mistake is assuming that every burden is also a personal commission to execute. The intercessor must remain before God long enough to discern whether the instruction is to pray, to speak, to act, or to release the matter to someone with a different grace. Moses held up his hands while Joshua fought the battle; both assignments mattered, but they were not the same assignment.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

Exodus 17:8–13 · 1 Corinthians 12:4–6

Protect the first love

Becoming more attached to people than to God.

Intercessors can become so emotionally attached to the people, nation, church, or situation for which they pray that the object of intercession begins to occupy the place that belongs to God. Compassion is essential, but intimacy with God must remain deeper than attachment to the burden.

Friendship with God is what gives the intercessor access, perspective, endurance, and authority. Once attachment to people becomes stronger than attachment to God, prayer can become driven by fear, sentiment, personal preference, or control. The intercessor’s first love must always be God. We remain in Him, receive His heart, and love people from that place.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… this is the first commandment.”

Mark 12:29–31 · John 15:4–5

Do not grow weary of people

Becoming disenchanted with humanity.

Intercessors repeatedly see humanity turn away from God—like a dog returning to its vomit. They pray, see mercy extended, and then watch people repeat the same rebellion. This cycle can produce frustration, disappointment, and eventually contempt. Moses experienced the pressure of leading a stiff-necked people. David also knew the anguish of living among rebellion and deceit.

But the intercessor cannot allow repeated human failure to cancel divine compassion. God sees sin more clearly than we do, yet He continues to call, warn, forgive, restore, and redeem. The intercessor must bring frustration honestly to God, receive His patience again, and refuse to become weary in well-doing. We stand in the gap because people need mercy—not because they have already become easy to love.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Exodus 32:9–14 · Galatians 6:9

Revelation requires humility

Becoming proud because of friendship with God.

An intercessor may become enamored by closeness to God, spiritual insight, or access to divine secrets and then grow proud, arrogant, unmoving, or impatient toward God’s people. Revelation can create the false impression that knowing what God has shown us makes us better than those for whom we pray.

True friendship with God produces humility, not spiritual superiority. The closer we come to His holiness, the more aware we become of our dependence upon grace. What God reveals is entrusted for service, prayer, warning, healing, and restoration—not for self-importance. Paul was given a safeguard lest the abundance of revelations exalt him above measure. Every intercessor must carry revelation with trembling, gentleness, and love.

“What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

2 Corinthians 12:7 · Micah 6:8

Burden must not extinguish hope

Falling into toxic negativity.

This occurs when intercessors, because of the many painful things God burdens them to pray about, become negative and hopeless. All they see is sin, transgression, failure, judgment, and destruction. The burden may be real, but their vision becomes incomplete when they can no longer see mercy, repentance, restoration, or the possibility of divine intervention.

Jonah knew that God was gracious and merciful, yet he became angry when Nineveh received mercy. Intercessors must never prefer the fulfillment of judgment over the redemption of people. We are called to be loving, caring, full of faith, and full of hope. Mature intercession sees the darkness clearly while still believing that God can save, heal, revive, and restore.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope.”

Jonah 4:1–4 · Romans 15:13

Intercession is larger than resistance

Thinking intercession is only against negativity, judgment, and destruction.

Some intercessors begin to think that their calling is only to oppose evil, avert judgment, restrain destruction, and pray against negative events. These are genuine dimensions of standing in the gap, but they are not the whole ministry of intercession.

Intercession also includes thanksgiving, blessing, worship, salvation, revival, healing, wisdom for leaders, strength for the Church, labourers for the harvest, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the establishment of His will. An intercessor does not live only in reaction to darkness. We also agree with God for what is good, righteous, fruitful, and redemptive. Scripture joins supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving together.

“I exhort therefore, that… supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

1 Timothy 2:1–4 · Philippians 4:6–7

Return to the secret place

Stay close to God, tender toward people, and faithful to your assignment.

Explore CTI Join Courts of Prayer