Graham’s death should put an urgency in the hearts of intercessors far and wide to pick up the slack, stand in the gap, make up the hedge—and pray for our nation.
Billy Graham, America’s pastor, graduated to heaven—and only God really knows how many people he took with him. What many may not immediately consider is Graham was as much an intercessor—especially in the later years of his life—as he was an evangelist.
I was having breakfast in North Florida when I got the news of Graham’s death. Immediately, I was hit with the spiritual implications of his graduating to glory. Immediately I understood that his powerful prayers—that his intercession for our nation and even world leaders—would be missed.
James 5:16 (AMPC) tells us, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” Graham’s prayers were heartfelt, continued and powerful. He understood the power of prayer.
Cliff Barrows, a long-time musician and program director for Graham’s ministry—once said, “When Billy Graham was asked about the most important steps in preparing for an evangelistic outreach, he always answered that there were three things that mattered most: Prayer, prayer and prayer.”
Consider what the man of God had to say about prayer I discovered through the Billy Graham Library.
“In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.”
“True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.”
“Have you ever said, ‘Well, all we can do now is pray’? … When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”
“We are to pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. We are to pray in times of prosperity, lest we become boastful and proud. We are to pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. We are to pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.”
“This should be the motto of every follower of Jesus Christ. No matter how dark and hopeless a situation might seem, never stop praying.”
I always loved Graham’s heart for prayer—and intercession. He prayed for presidents. He prayed for churches. He prayed for America in times of crisis. His son, Franklin, said he was mentally alert right up to the end. I have to believe he prayed right up to the end.
How great could the void in the spirit be from one man’s prayers? You’ve probably read the prophecies from Benny Hinn and Kim Clement about Graham’s homegoing. I won’t rehash them here.
Neither am I exalting a man, but I do believe Graham’s death should put an urgency in the hearts of intercessors far and wide to pick up the slack, stand in the gap, make up the hedge—and pray for our nation.
Who will pray? If you’re an intercessor, I want to hear from you. God is moving through prayer in an unprecedented way. To learn more, visit AwakeningBlaze.com, a prayer movement God launched on Pentecost Sunday in 2017.
