Today’s name of God describes a job God does and how He relates to us. He is our Intercessor. By definition an intercessor is one who prays, petitions or entreats favor for another. This is described in Romans as the job of the Holy Spirit towards us and in John we see Jesus interceding for us with the Father. What a privilege it is to know that we have an Intercessor God that loves and cares for us.

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” How many times have you been stuck and not known what to pray in a situation? In those times we can take comfort from the fact that the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to present our prayers properly to God. When the Spirit intercedes, He presents requests that are aligned with God’s perfect will. It describes His praying for us as groanings to deep for words. He is involved in our prayers and even in our fumbling He presents them faultless before God. Thank you Holy Spirit!

In Hebrews 7:24-25 Jesus is described as our Great High Priest. “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus will hold that position permanently and lives to intercede on our behalf before God. There is no ending to his intercession as he is eternal and never tires.

I love the 17the chapter of the gospel of John as in that chapter Jesus prays for the disciple then and for all believers in the future. He shows His great love, care and concern for those who believe in Him. John 17:8-10 “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.  John continues in 15-19 “ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” Jesus wants us to know Him and when we do He lives to intercede on our behalf knowing the challenges we will face in this world before we join Him in eternity.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can take comfort in knowing Jesus prayed for me and that the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to intercede for me each day. Be encouraged as God will hear your prayers no matter how inadequate they may seem. He will present them perfect before God with the intent of your heart. Keep on praying as Prayer Changes Things! If it didn’t, Jesus would not have prayed for us! Keep on praying!

Linda