A newly wed friend told me he was reading Love and Respect, we were talking about obedience from love received from Jesus Christ. The premise of Love and Respect is that women need to be loved, men need to be respected. He linked this idea to how the Bible describes the Church as the Bride of Christ, a metaphor for Christ's intimate, sacrificial love for His people, highlighted in Ephesians 5:25-32, where Christ's devotion mirrors a husband's love, culminating in the final union at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb described in Revelation 19:7-9, with 2 Corinthians 11:2 also referencing this spiritual betrothal and Revelation 21:2 describing the New Jerusalem as a bride ready for her husband.
To obey Christ is to respect him, to pray according to his will for his glory. When we intercede we should also learn to listen for his response. Consider the following examples of what this looks like:
OLD TESTAMENT
Abraham: Interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, bargaining with God from 50 righteous down to 10 (Genesis 18:23-33)
Moses: Spoke with God "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11); interceded for Israel after golden calf, offering his own life (Exodus 32:11-14, 31-32); prayed for Miriam's healing (Numbers 12:13); stood in the gap repeatedly (Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 25-29)
Aaron: Stood between the living and dead with incense to stop plague (Numbers 16:46-48)
Hannah: Prayed with such intensity Eli thought she was drunk; made vow and kept it (1 Samuel 1:10-18, 27-28); prayer of praise (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
Samuel: "Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23); interceded for Israel constantly (1 Samuel 7:5-9; 8:6)
David: Rose at midnight to give thanks (Psalm 119:62); prayed morning, noon, and evening (Psalm 55:17); authored most Psalms—prayer life documented in detail; prayer of repentance (Psalm 51); prayers for deliverance (Psalms 3, 5, 7, 17, 22, 31, etc.)
Solomon: Dedication prayer for temple lasting hours (1 Kings 8:22-53); asked for wisdom rather than riches (1 Kings 3:5-14)
Elijah: Called down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-38); prayed for three-and-a-half-year drought, then for rain (James 5:17-18; 1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45); raised widow's son through prayer (1 Kings 17:20-22)
Elisha: Raised Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-35); prayed for servant's eyes to be opened to see angelic army (2 Kings 6:17); prayed for Arameans to be struck with blindness (2 Kings 6:18)
Jehoshaphat: Prayed before battle, admitted total dependence: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" (2 Chronicles 20:6-12)
Hezekiah: Spread Sennacherib's threatening letter before the Lord (2 Kings 19:14-19); prayed when facing death, received 15 more years (2 Kings 20:1-6)
Isaiah: Responded "Here I am! Send me" after vision (Isaiah 6:8); interceded for Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:1-7)
Jeremiah: Known as the weeping prophet; prayers of lament and intercession throughout his book (Jeremiah 10:23-24; 12:1-4; 14:7-9, 19-22; 15:15-18; 20:7-18); God told him to stop interceding for the people (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11)
Ezekiel: Called to stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30); prayer posture during visions (Ezekiel 11:13)
Daniel: Prayed three times daily with windows open toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10); fasted and prayed 21 days for understanding (Daniel 10:2-3, 12-14); confession and intercession for Israel (Daniel 9:3-19); prayers triggered angelic warfare (Daniel 10:12-13)
Nehemiah: Four months of fasting and prayer before approaching king (Nehemiah 1:4-11); instant prayer while conversing with Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:4); prayed while working on wall (Nehemiah 4:4-5, 9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31)
Ezra: Fasted and prayed for safe journey, refusing military escort to demonstrate faith (Ezra 8:21-23); prayer of confession over intermarriage (Ezra 9:5-15)
Job: Interceded for his children regularly with burnt offerings (Job 1:5); maintained integrity through suffering; prayed for friends who wronged him, and God restored him (Job 42:8-10)
Jonah: Prayed from fish's belly (Jonah 2:1-9); prayer of complaint about God's mercy (Jonah 4:2-3)
Habakkuk: Prayer of complaint: "How long, O Lord?" (Habakkuk 1:2-4); prayer of faith and worship despite circumstances (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Jabez: Prayed for blessing and enlarged territory; God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:10)
NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus: Withdrew often to pray (Luke 5:16); prayed all night before choosing disciples (Luke 6:12); prayed early morning in solitary places (Mark 1:35); prayed before miracles (John 11:41-42); taught disciples to pray (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4); high priestly prayer (John 17); Gethsemane agony (Matthew 26:36-44; Luke 22:41-44); prayed for Peter's faith (Luke 22:32); prayed for His executioners (Luke 23:34); currently intercedes for believers (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34)
Anna: Prophetess who "did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day" (Luke 2:36-37)
Zechariah: Praying in temple when angel announced John's birth (Luke 1:8-13)
The Disciples: Asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1); prayed for replacement for Judas (Acts 1:24-25)
Peter: Vision at Joppa while praying (Acts 10:9-16); raised Tabitha through prayer (Acts 9:40); delivered from prison while church prayed (Acts 12:5-11); prayed before healing lame man (Acts 3:1-8)
John: Prayed on Patmos, received Revelation (Revelation 1:9-11); prayers of the saints like incense (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4)
Paul: Prayed constantly for churches (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3, 9; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:3); prayed three times for thorn removal (2 Corinthians 12:8); prayed and sang in prison (Acts 16:25); asked for prayer support (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25); prayers throughout epistles show his intercession pattern
Epaphras: "Always struggling on your behalf in his prayers" for maturity and assurance (Colossians 4:12-13); Paul's fellow prisoner (Philemon 1:23)
Cornelius: "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4, 31)
Stephen: Prayed while being stoned: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" and "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:59-60)
The Early Church: "Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42); prayed for boldness after persecution (Acts 4:23-31); prayed before choosing deacons (Acts 6:6); prayed for Samaritan believers to receive Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15); prayed earnestly for Peter in prison (Acts 12:5, 12); prayed and fasted before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:3); prayed and fasted when appointing elders (Acts 14:23)
Ananias: Prayed when instructed to visit Saul (Acts 9:10-17)
Paul and Silas: Prayed and sang hymns at midnight in Philippian jail; earthquake followed (Acts 16:25-26)
Elders of Ephesus: Knelt and prayed with Paul at his departure (Acts 20:36)
James (the Just): Known for prayer; knees reportedly like camels from constant kneeling (early church tradition); wrote about prayer's power (James 5:13-18)
PRAYERS OF DESPERATION/URGENCY
The Tax Collector: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"—went home justified (Luke 18:13-14)
The Thief on the Cross: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom"—immediate salvation (Luke 23:42-43)
Blind Bartimaeus: Cried out persistently despite crowds telling him to be quiet (Mark 10:46-52)
The Canaanite/Syrophoenician Woman: Persistent faith despite initial refusal; wrestled with Jesus until He granted her request (Matthew 15:22-28; Mark 7:25-30)
Peter Sinking: "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30)
The Disciples in the Storm: "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" (Matthew 8:25)
Ten Lepers: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:13)
INTERCESSORY PRAYER SPECIALISTS
Abraham: Bargained for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33)
Moses: Repeatedly stood in gap for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14, 31-32; Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 25-29)
Samuel: Refused to stop praying for Israel (1 Samuel 12:23; 7:5-9)
Job: Prayed for friends who wronged him (Job 42:8-10)
Epaphras: Wrestling prayers for three churches (Colossians 4:12-13)
Paul: Constant intercession for all churches (all epistles)
Jesus: Ultimate Intercessor—current ministry (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34)
CORPORATE/COLLECTIVE PRAYER
Israelites at Red Sea: Cried out to the Lord (Exodus 14:10)
Assembly at Mizpah: Fasted and prayed for deliverance (1 Samuel 7:5-9)
Jehoshaphat's Army: Entire nation gathered to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:3-13)
Jerusalem Church: Prayed earnestly for Peter (Acts 12:5, 12)
Antioch Church: Prayed and fasted before sending missionaries (Acts 13:2-3)
Believers After Persecution: Lifted voices together in prayer (Acts 4:24-31)
120 in Upper Room: Continued in prayer before Pentecost (Acts 1:14)
