Most of us know that the world isn’t what it should be. All it could be. So, what do we do about that? Some people go all in, devoting their lives to causes like the rights of a marginalized group or environmental issues.

However, Christians can marshall a different response, namely intercessory prayer. It’s a fancy phrase that means praying for the needs of others. It’s not a passive reaction insulating them from responsibility. On the contrary, it leans into the belief that an actively listening God, revealed ultimately in Jesus Christ, invites His people to petition Him on behalf of others.