This form of prayer is what most people think of when they think of prayer. Petitions are prayers of request for oneself and intercessions are prayers of requests for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case.
Jesus as Intercessor
Jesus Christ is our model for intercessory prayer. Jesus stands before God and between God and sinful man, just as the Old Testament priests did. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator (intercessor) between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Similarly, Romans 8:34 says, “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Because of Jesus being a new sort of high priest, we can approach God boldly without fear (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Furthermore, Jesus was an intercessor while He was here on earth. He prayed for those who were sick and possessed by demons. He prayed for His disciples. He even prayed for you and me when He interceded for all those who would believe in Him. Jesus continued His ministry of intercession after His death and resurrection when He returned to Heaven.
Praying in this way can be for other’s benefit and our own. Yet, beyond all of that, we pray in this way because that is how Jesus taught us to pray in what we call today “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.
Go Further
Knocking on Heaven's Door: A New Testament Theology of Petitionary Prayer by David Crump
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? By Phillip Yancey
---
Article adapted from http://www.allaboutprayer.org/intercessory-prayer.htm