Praying With/For Insight

Praying With Insight


“What does ‘praying with insight’ mean? It means praying from the perspective of knowledge or understanding regarding the circumstances of the person or situation you are praying for. Insight is the power to see below the surface of a situation, to discern the inner nature or truth of something that is not immediately apparent. Although asking questions and doing research often sheds light on a situation, true insight is essentially a spiritual quality. As such it has its source in God: ‘I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation’ (Psalm 119:99)”


Dear Intercessors,

It is a wonderful thing to know that when we pray, God gives us insight into our situation. We do not beat around in the dark or pray non-relevant, empty prayers, but we can be assured that God will give us wisdom in our prayers if we ask for it. Our prayers can be potent with the insight of God and with a razer-sharp Holy Spirit-inspired ability to see into the spiritual realm for how to best pray in a given situation. Intercessors should be the wisest people on earth, because they are coming to the God of all wisdom with their requests. We read in Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God will lead and direct our intercession if we choose to ask Him to give us insight and wisdom. Gaining wisdom for intercession is more precious than rubies.


“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 8:10-11)


I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you begin a time of prayer. He will help you to see below surface of a situation and discern the truth. Many times I have prayed prayers spontaneously that I later realized were prayers that were initiated by the Holy Spirit, with His insight and wisdom that was beyond my own understanding. I believe that God gives true spiritual insight, but we need to give Him time in order to obtain this type of insight that is beyond our comprehension and that is supernatural. All of us can grow in this area. We are going to need this for the end-times prayer movement. Our God is wiser than all enemy attacks, and He knows the end from the beginning. We are going to need God’s insight as to how to pray as judgments increasingly come upon the earth. He wants to give us quickness in intellect, a readiness in apprehension and dexterity in action. He longs that we are able to judge what is most proper and useful in every prayer situation. He wants us to be wise and insightful in our prayers. We need to be ones who cry out for insight and discernment on a regular basis.

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-6)


The Power of Asking for Insight and Discernment



“Similar to insight in source and meaning is discernment, the ability to comprehend that which is obscure, to distinguish or discriminate (in the positive sense) between good and evil, true and false, right and wrong, especially where (on the surface at least) the differences are very subtle. ‘And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent…’ (Philippines 1:9-10)”


There is power in seeking God for insight, wisdom and discernment. God wants us to be sharp-sighted with the ability to perceive the difference between right and wrong. Webster’s Dictionary says that the word “insight” means “sight or view of the interior of anything; deep inspection or view, thorough knowledge or skill.” God wants to make us into skillful prayer warriors with the ability to see into the inner depths of the things that we are praying for. He wants to give us a deep view and understanding of how to pray. He wants us to approve of that which is excellent and pray accordingly. Wisdom is: “properly having knowledge, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false, between what is fit and proper, and what is improper.” As intercessors, we want to be wise in act, effect and practice. Look at the power of asking for insight in the following examples:

· Solomon asking for wisdom - “’So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right an wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (I Kings 3:9-12)

· We learn the fear of the Lord - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom ad discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

· Wisdom will be given - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:5-7)

· God reveals His secret counsel - “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)


Ways to Pray that Enhance Insight


There are various ways that we can pray that will enhance our ability for insight and wisdom. You may have been involved in some of these ways yourself such as prayerwalking. Prayerwalking is praying on site with insight. It helps you to pray with insight as you see the situation before you when you walk and pray. I have done this numerous times in my own neighborhood. I find that it is a tremendous way to pray with insight because you see the needs around you with your eyes. Praying on-site, such as on a prayer journey with a group, is also insightful praying which helps you to identify with your surroundings. I remember being on a prayer journey in Spain with a large group. God gave us such insight together as we would pray in various cities. He led us into identificational repentance over sins that occurred in those places 100’s of years earlier. We needed to actually be praying on that very location to receive the insight that the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal.


Prayer watches are extended times of prayer when we can tap into the heart of God as we are waiting, watching and praying for several hours. God is able to give us great insight because we are giving Him undistracted time. We read in Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Prayer and fasting is also very beneficial in receiving wisdom, insight and divine revelation from God. It helps us to walk in humility, breaks our selfish ambition and pride, helps us to see God’s priorities and makes us more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to get involved in all of these ways of praying because they will help enhance wisdom, discernment and understanding in your life. Other key verses are: Psalm 59:9, 119:125. Proverbs 10:13, 14:33, 16:21, 17:24a.

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.” (Proverbs 3:21)

Sometimes we just do not know how to pray. I am encouraged in heart by Colossians 2:2-3 which says, “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Therefore, He will give us His wisdom as we pray and ask for it. He is our teacher. Psalm 51:6 says, “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” (Proverbs 4:7-8)


My prayer for you is that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your prayers. I pray that He will guide you supernaturally in your prayer life and that you will be an example of insight, discernment and wisdom to others. I pray that your prayers will be powerful because they are prayers filled with Godly insight that sees below the surface. I pray that you will be discerning and will keep wisdom in view (Proverbs 17:24a). I pray that your heart may be enlightened with hope and power to believe.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17-23)

Intercessors Arise Prayer Requests and Opportunities
· Pray for the development of the new Intercessors Arise International website and the International School of Prayer - Please pray for creativity and wisdom with God’s anointing, presence, and power in every aspect of the development of this website and school of prayer.

· Pray for the release of two Intercessors Arise books - The first book is called Intercessors Arise: A Mentoring Manual Designed to Release Your Potential in Prayer and Intercession and will be published as an e-book very soon. We need approximately $10,000 to publish these two books on intercession in paperback in order to distribute them widely and spread the vision of intercession to other nations. If you would like to contribute financially towards the publishing of these two books, go to the Elijah Company, Inc. web site www.elijahcompany.org, see “contact us” and look at the bottom marked “PayPal donate”. There you will be able to use a credit card through our Pay Pal account. Make a note “For Intercessors Arise”. Intercessors Arise is part of the Elijah Company, Inc. You can also give by sending a check to Elijah Company, Inc., P. O. Box 64016, Virginia Beach, VA 23467-4016.

· Encourage others to receive these Intercessors Arise weekly training e-mails - Please pass this e-mail on to 5 people. They can subscribe by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to intercessorsarise-international-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. If anyone is interested in 24-7 day and night prayer, they can subscribe to our monthly e-mail called 24-7 Prayer Arise by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to 24-7prayerarise-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. You can also e-mail me at deb@intercessorsarise.org.

· Missionary Training Camp - May 18-21, 2006 - This will be held at Living Waters Farm in Virginia. The training camps are intensive days that prepare missionary candidates by teaching the steps to get to the field. For more information see www.elijahcompany.org, call 757-226-3507 or write to elijah@elijahcompany.org. This is also good for intercessors and those needing refreshing in their spiritual walks.

· Campo de Gibraltar House of Prayer - November, 2006 - The Elijah Company, Inc. will be hosting a 24/7 House of Prayer in the Campo de Gibraltar. This is a spiritually strategic area located along the southern tip of Spain, near the Rock of Gibraltar, twenty-three miles from Morocco. We will join with and minister to local churches to seek the outpouring of God’s presence in the area, give practical experience to those pursuing disciplines in prayer and/or a prayer ministry, offer practical training for missions, worship, evangelism and prayer in both English and Spanish, plus offer opportunities for outreach in the countries of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar. For requirements, dates and costs, write to elijah@elijahcompany.org.

“Insight, discernment, wisdom - all are critical qualities for effective prayer. God has called us to be a people of prayer and our churches to be houses of prayer. He has invited us to join Him in His redemptive plan for the world. God gives insight because whenever He gets ready to move, He reveals His plans to those who are seeking Him.” Quotes by Jim Goll



Together in the Harvest,

Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org