When human prayer comes to an end, real praying begins. When our lists of wants are surrendered at the cross, Holy Spirit praying can commence. The Holy Spirit needs a body through whom He can intercede, but He will not share His glory with another. Thus, after we have witnessed the blessing of His miraculous ways, He will guide us into circumstances leading to the death of our reputations.

Only the Spirit can lead us into intercession, but some Christians may find their prayer lives blending into intercession, when they are led to pray in tongues. When the Holy Spirit prays through us using this heavenly language, we will be praying perfect prayers, and our spirits are edified when we pray in tongues: ‘Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves’ (1 Corinthians 14:4).

The measure of the power that will be released through us, is the measure to which the Power works in us. It is this path that leads us to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, because it is not us who asks, or who does, but the Holy Spirit within us. This was the case in the lives of Old Testament characters and the New.

To engage in intercession is far deeper than praying in tongues. To intercede is to pray the prayers of the Holy Spirit, in the way He chooses, and within His timing. We can only engage in intercession to the extent the Holy Spirit reveals the will of God to us and how to pray His prayers.

This is an excerpt from the book ‘Holy Spirit Power! Knowing the Voice, Guidance and Person of the Holy Spirit’ by Paul Backholer and is used by permission.