What 'Enteuxis' Means for Intercessory Prayer
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV).
Do you remember the world before cell phones? The time when we were outside more, moving more, and meeting each other face-to-face more?
In a world where we’re more connected than ever through social media and instant text messaging, we can also become more disconnected than ever. We begin to stare at the world through a screen and miss each other in the vast black hole of the world wide web.
This month, we’ve been walking through 1 Timothy 2:1 and the outline of prayer that Paul lays out. So far, we’ve discussed deēsis (supplication—asking for our needs) and proseuchē (prayer—the invitation to be present with the Lord). While all of 1 Timothy 2:1 does discuss praying for others, the third word truly pulls us out of our own world and out from behind our screens.
Meaning of ‘Enteuxis’
We’ve reached our third week, the third word Paul used in encompassing the elements of prayer: intercession. In Greek, it’s enteuxis.
So, after bringing our needs to the Lord, spending time with Him and praising who He is, we now look past ourselves and turn to the needs of others.
Enteuxis pictures an audience, an interview, “falling in” with someone before the throne. It’s bringing another person’s name, burden, or future into the room with you. It’s standing with others to believe for their promise, their healing, their breakthrough. It is holding one another’s burdens. Sometimes, it’s bringing people before the Lord who may have never asked for it—praying for them to turn to the Lord in salvation.
How to Add ‘Enteuxis’ Into Your Prayers
There are so many ways to add enteuxis into our prayer routine. Personally, I keep a running note on my phone of every text that says, “please pray.” It’s a simple way to make sure those requests are not forgotten, that each vulnerable ask is not brushed aside.
It could be keeping a running list of those who haven’t yet surrendered to Jesus. It could be committing to texting someone every morning—maybe a different person every morning—and letting them know you’re praying for them (and, of course, actually praying for them!).
The Impact of ‘Enteuxis’
When I bring these requests to God, something shifts. Suddenly, I’m no longer the center of my own solar system! Enteuxis turns prayer outward and keeps our hearts soft.
In a way, enteuxis is its own kind of surrender and trust. Not only leaning on God for our own needs, but laying down our needs and choosing instead to pick up the burdens of others and bring them before Him.
I can’t wait to see the breakthroughs that will happen as we commit to standing alongside one another. Look around. Pay attention. And let the needs of others take priority in your heart and mind as we practice the holy calling of enteuxis!
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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.
