Prayer Burdens and Burden Bearing, an Intercessor’s Call

Intercessors tend to be sensitive people. We tend to be very empathetic (thus the term Christian Empath) – constantly feeling things for others – and God wired us that way so we’re able to pick up on the things He wants to prompt us to pray over. But this same sensitivity can create confusion and even depression if you don’t understand it or know that it’s happening. [Note: I include a brief video at the bottom of this post as well]

Burden bearing is a term that is used by intercessors to describe the sensation we often have when we’re being prompted to pray. If you don’t have a framework for understanding this concept, it can feel a little like your emotions are going haywire. I found for myself and others that simply putting a name to it and acknowledging that it’s happening can be a huge relief – even a paradigm shift – for the one experiencing it. 

What is a Prayer Burden and Burden Bearing

In the same way you might squeeze someone’s arm to get their attention, God will sometimes lay a “burden” on you to prompt you to pray. I find what this looks like can be as individual as each of us are, but the common theme is it will be noticeable (because it’s intended to get our attention).  

For me, I will often find myself experiencing emotions that have no relevance on my current situation or mood. Often these are prayer burdens and they will lift once addressed. But if I don’t know to address them or what they are, they can be the cause of confusion, frustration, and even depression. 

Sometimes I will have an ongoing burden for a person or situation, but I find the “weight” of the burden will fluctuate based on the urgency of prayer need at any given moment. In the same way as when you are ballroom dancing and the one leading will apply increased pressure to give direction, so God will increase and decrease the prayer burden to indicate what He wants you to do. 

I think of burden bearing as the act of carrying a prayer burden. So if you are sensing a prayer burden, ongoing or one-time, that is burden bearing. 

How-to Recognize a Prayer Burden

Recognizing a prayer burden is like developing a language of sorts in the sense that you learn how to communicate effectively over time with the Father (which is the same as with every area of your walk with Him). There are two key things I look for and listen for: anomalies and patterns. 

I look for anomalies in my feelings and emotions. An example might be that I’m having a wonderful and productive day when suddenly I’m hit with a wave of fear. Since nothing in my current situation or mood caused it, it would likely get my attention quickly. 

I’ll be honest, the first thing I’d do is check my female tracking app because let’s be real, any woman knows hormones can bring a fair dose of crazy with them – LOL! But once I’d assured myself that wasn’t the cause, I’d recognize this was likely a prayer burden. 

I also listen for patterns when I’m talking with others in the body especially those I know are intercessors. So for example, if everyone seems to be experiencing waves of “funk” and the description of it sounds similar, there’s likely something in the Body of Christ that we intercessors need to band together and pray through. 

A Pitfall to Avoid 

Note the key here is communication; communication with God and each other. As intercessors we often can feel isolated, frequently we’ve been misunderstood by people and likely felt judged by them which often results in us keeping things to ourselves. In doing so, we make the burdens heavier. 

We need each other. We need the reminder we are not crazy. We need the prayerful support. We function better and in a more healthy way when we come together and talk about how intercession happens in our life and how it effects us. It’s also how we learn which allows God to increase the gifting in us. 

I encourage you to resist the urge to retreat. Because we’ve often been judged (and since we’re sensitive in the first place) it is easy for us to retreat to avoid judgement. As an intercessor it’s also easy to become focused on the things we’re pushing through and on protecting ourselves from outside criticism in our execution of our gift. 

I know this is a bit of a sidebar, but this is important. Don’t let yourself be isolated. It makes you too easy for the enemy to target you. Connect to other intercessors or at least with people who don’t judge your gifting and how it flows. 

How-to Press Through the Burden

Once you’ve identified a prayer burden, you also need to know what to do with it. Let’s start by remembering God is the power. This is important to remember because it isn’t about how much or how long you pray, it’s about obedience to what He is asking for and then trusting His power and authority to do the work. 

Sometimes simply saying “yes God” and coming into agreement with Him in your heart is enough for the prayer burden to lift. Sometimes He is asking you to press in more. Sometimes He wants you to rally the troops, gathering other intercessors together to address the burden corporately. Whatever it is, trust His Holy Spirit to lead you. 

Don’t be put off if what He’s asking for seems “silly” or doesn’t make sense. He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, so just obey. If He asks you to blow a shofar over a building, just do it. If He asks you to shout “freedom” over a person, just do it. These prophetic acts often accompany intercession (though they don’t have to), so don’t allow yourself to be derailed or frustrated by them or how you feel doing them. 

We often don’t understand what our natural actions are doing in the spiritual realm, and that’s ok. He’s had me stomp my feet when I’m praying to symbolically break chains. He’s had me speak into someone’s belly (not someone who was pregnant although those too), or any number of sounds or gestures. Yes it is humbling because you often feel ridiculous, but it is more important to obey than to maintain “dignity.”

With that said, you do need to submit to the leadership you’re under. So if you’re in a church and they aren’t ok with you doing “fill in the blank”, that needs to be respected. Remember God put them in the position of authority, so your submission honors Him. There is grace for the intercession in the midst of that. 

So logically when you sense a prayer burden, put out your spiritual feelers. Ask Papa God what or who you’re supposed to be praying over and what that should look like. Then do what He says. Nothing more, nothing less. 

In Conclusion 

Intercession is a strange and wonderful gifting. It allows us the benefit of deep intimacy with the Lord. He shares secrets with us to pray over. And we need to honor that sacred trust both by holding close what He shares in confidence and by meticulously obeying. As we cultivate relationships with other intercessors, we will find a deeper understanding of our own gifts. What an honor and privilege it is to burden bear. Like an expectant mother, carrying to term and rejoicing in the fruit of her labor, allow the fullness of each burden to take its course and rejoice in the outcome. 

Bless you as you walk in your gift!

16 Replies to “Prayer Burdens and Burden Bearing, an Intercessor’s Call”

  1. Excellent article and explanation of the often misunderstood calling on the life of an intersesor.

    • Thank you Vickie! I’m often surprised by how much people don’t know. It helps remind me how even basic explanations can be hugely helpful. Love you friend!

  2. I just finally had a chance to read this, and everything you said is right on! Question how do you deal with the judgment and jealousy of others? I often back off from people or groups because I feel the competition and envy. It makes me so sad and even angry at times, because I know this is my gifting, but I feel like I have to hold back. I’ve had people in the body tell me to stay away. Thanks ?

    • You prompted a whole other post with this question! In addition to the thoughts I share there I would add that if they are in authority, honor their requests within the sphere of that authority (e.g. a pastor asks you not to prophesy in his church, you respect that and seek Father for instruction on what to do next). I actually touched on this authority issue in my live stream today (at about the 34 min mark). Anyhow, hopefully that helps! Love you so 🙂

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  4. Hi, precious Meghan!
    I agree with the others, you did an excellent job in your explaining. I can certainly agree with all you’ve spoken about. Thanks for all that you pour out, may God bless you richly!

    Love you lots 🙂

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  6. This has put into words so well, what Im experiencing right now and have experienced. When I journaled about it I said its hard for me to articulate the feeling, the emotions, I know its not me, I know its God doing it. Its such a relief to know that someone else knows exactly what Im going through. Its a burden and also a greaf honor that the Father finds me worthy?

  7. Thanks a lot for this article, i didn’t know how to describe this feelings, i was a bit confused and frustrated sometimes. You are appreciated ???

  8. This was great. Especially the part about doing whatever is asked even if it seems silly or ridiculous. I can definitely relate. Thank you and God bless.

  9. Hi.. all my life people have told me I ware my emotions on my sleeve and even make fun of me. I have been judge and made to think I was not apart of the body. Today I woke with a burden and I began to question the Father Yah if it was him or the devil placing thoughts in my mind. Then I came upon your blog.

    Everything spoke. Reminded me of me. I believe this is my calling and I just need to learn how to walk on it.

    I would love prayer and advice

  10. I’m so glad you found this encouraging. I just encourage you to press in to the Father for deeper revelation on why he has wired you the way he’s wired you. He has a reason, he has a purpose, and he has a plan. And we know that it is good!

  11. My oh my! Over the course of 50 years in my stumbling steps to follow Yeshua, it never occurred to me that intercession is an actual gift of burden. Most of the “intercessors” that I’ve been acquainted with seem to love the sound of their own voice than whatever or whoever is the object of prayer. Consequently, I have shied away from those professing and proclaiming their gift. Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps not. Be that as it may, in light of your article (which was stumbled upon-lol) and because of the insight given to you and shared, I’m now saying “yes, Lord” to the many, multiplied burdens, nudges, soft and not so soft pressure which I can now understand is a gift from my Father. Thank you and God continue to bless you.

    • I’m so glad the information was a blessing. I’ve found the intercessor gifting looks different from person to person, so it can be hard to identify with (or to want to for reasons you’ve noted). It’s important that we extend grace to each other even in our flaws. Who knows if the folks who appear to like hearing themselves talk became that way because they felt unheard? The intercessor who scared me off embracing the gift for years constantly made it seem like a big to-do and was always vocal about all she was suffering. It took me years to realize she felt that her exertions on behalf of those she loved were unseen and unappreciated, so they became exaggerated to get noticed from a place of wounding. As sensitive, empathic people ourselves, it’s a good thing to remember we should extend the grace we ourselves want to receive (I’m preaching to myself here too LOL!). Anyhow, many many blessings to you as you pursue your gifting!

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