H. C. G. Moule affirms the importance of praying for others. “Intercessory prayer is a powerful means of grace to the praying man …. Henry Martyn observed, [intercessory prayers] were for himself, the divinely natural channel of a renewed insight into his own part and lot in Christ, into Christ as his own rest and power, into the perfect freedom of an entire yielding of himself to his master for His work.”

The apostle Paul prayed this inspired prayer the church in Ephesus. We are to embrace this prayer for ourselves and others: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesianc ch. 3:14-21 ESV

Charles A Cook observes, “Paul’s two intercessory prayers in Ephesians chs 1 and 3 are remarkable in setting forth the believer’s privileges and standing in Christ. As we pray these prayers for others we shall more fully appropriate them for ourselves.”

As believer priests, may we more faithfully intercede in prayer.