8 Worship Songs About The Power Of Prayer (Intercession)

St. Augustine once said, “He who sings, prays twice.” Worship and prayer are inseparable; the best worship songs are simply prayers set to melody. When we sing, we are not just making music; we are communicating directly with the Living God.

Songs about prayer play a vital role in the spiritual formation of a congregation. They teach us *how* to pray—giving us language for intercession, confession, warfare, and surrender. They remind the church that prayer is not a passive activity, but the primary engine that drives the Kingdom of God forward.

Why These Songs Deepen Our Prayer Life

We selected these songs because:

  • They are models. They often follow biblical patterns of prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer or the Psalms.
  • They are active. They don’t just talk about prayer; they *are* prayers. Singing them is the act of doing it.
  • They cover different types. This list includes prayers of warfare, petition, dependency, and dedication.

8 Songs To Fuel Intercession

  1. The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) – Jesus gave us the perfect blueprint for prayer in Matthew 6. This song takes those ancient words and sets them to a triumphant melody. It aligns our priorities with “Your Kingdom come” before we ask for our daily bread.
  2. I Speak Jesus – This is an anthem of intercession. It teaches the church to speak the name of Jesus over specific targets: their family, their depression, and the streets of their city. It turns the sanctuary into a war room.
  3. Battle Belongs – “When I fight, I fight on my knees.” This song connects the posture of prayer with the outcome of victory. It reminds us that prayer is not a last resort; it is our first line of offense.
  4. Lord I Need You – The simplest prayer is often the most powerful: “Help.” This song is a continuous confession of need, training the believer to lean on God’s grace every single hour.
  5. Build My Life – The bridge acts as a prayer of dedication and mission: “Show me who You are… lead me in Your love.” It asks God to shape our character and our calling.
  6. Open The Eyes Of My Heart – Based on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:18, this song asks for spiritual illumination. It is a plea to see God clearly, which changes how we see everything else.
  7. Abide – Prayer is not just asking; it is remaining. This song fosters a prayer life of communion and resting in the presence of God, acknowledging Him as the Keeper of our souls.
  8. Give Me Jesus – This spiritual functions as a prayer of prioritization. In a world of distractions, it asks God to strip everything else away until only the essential remains.

Example Prayer-Focused Setlists

Setlist 1 (Warfare & Intercession)

  1. Battle Belongs – Establishes the strategy of fighting on our knees.
  2. The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) – Aligns the room with the will of God.
  3. I Speak Jesus – Moves into active prayer for the lost and hurting.

Setlist 2 (Dependency & Devotion)

  1. Open The Eyes Of My Heart – Asks for a vision of God.
  2. Lord I Need You – Confesses our daily need for grace.
  3. Give Me Jesus – A final prayer of total surrender.

How To Use These Songs In Your Church

  • Stop and pray. Don’t just sing through the songs. After Battle Belongs, stop the music and actually pray for a specific battle your church is facing. Let the song lead to the action.
  • Use the screen. During I Speak Jesus, put specific prayer prompts on the screen (e.g., “Pray for your children,” “Pray for the sick”) to guide the congregation’s intercession.
  • Teach the posture. Encourage people to open their hands during Lord I Need You as a sign of receiving, or to clench their fists during Battle Belongs as a sign of holding onto faith.

Next Steps

Is your worship service a concert or a prayer meeting? This Sunday, use The Lord’s Prayer to explicitly teach your congregation that when they sing, they are doing the heavy lifting of the Kingdom.

By Clara Gibson, WorshipChords Editorial Staff

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