". . .Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (Romans 12:3).

How easy it is to forget that biblical admonition! When pastors, ministries, churches, programs, and people for whom we have prayed are successful, it may be tempting to want to claim credit for ourselves. The reverse can be true, also. When things do not go well (especially if you predicted ahead of time that they would not or if you disagreed with them being tried in the first place), it can be a real temptation to secretly gloat, or even openly gossip about and criticize those who were involved.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (I Corinthians 13:4).

Intercession is love on its knees, so do not stand to your feet and do unlovely things. The closer you are to the pastor as a prayer partner, the more tempting it may be to want to tell others things you should not as a means of demonstrating your privileged position. Consider your prayer partner covenant as an honor, not a bragging right.

Being asked to pray for someone does not give you authority to control or direct their decisions and actions. An intercessor is not a counselor, board member, or boss. You may not agree with some of your pastor's thinking, theology, or decisions. At times, you may hope to change his or her mind about something, or you may literally doubt his or her spiritual integrity or maturity. Do not use prayer as a tool to work your way into a position of influence from which you try to control others. Lust for power is as corrupting as any of life's other spiritual dangers.

Have you ever felt manipulated or used by someone? It is a frustrating feeling, especially when you mistook their actions as offerings of sincere respect and friendship. Your pastor is as much in need of human friendship and fellowship as you are. Handle that need with care. Do not allow yourself to become a prayer partner as a means of getting inside information about the pastor or church situations to use later in political maneuvers or as a weapon to lessen his or her influence. Remember the lesson of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-17). Treachery is ultimately self-destructive.

As a prayer partner, your mission is to be a source of support and spiritual strength for the pastor and church. "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart" (I Peter 1:22).

A word has already been said about avoiding the temptation to gossip by passing along to others things overheard in prayer. The Apostle Paul warned us that, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (Corinthians 8:1).

Some prayer ministries get side-tracked when individuals begin focusing on special language, rituals, postures, or spiritualized practices they think add effectiveness to their prayers. But God does not hear us because of how loud, long, logically, or loftily we pray. That was the main point of what Jesus said about prayer in Matthew 6:5-8. Praying is not doing magic—using the right formula to get what you want or saying words in just the right way to get God to act. Prayer is coming to God on His terms, in His way, to seek His will and glory. Stay inside the lines of biblical teachings about prayer.