Friday, March 24, 2006

He Prays for Us


In Ladies' Bible Study we are reading the book Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick. In one little section she talks about Jesus praying for believers. I know that whenever I read the passage in John 17 where Jesus prays for believers I am really encouraged. I don't think often enough about the fact that Jesus prays for me. When she reminded me of this I was very humbled. Christ prays that believers' faith will not fail. He prayed this for the disciple Peter in Luke 22:32. As John Piper has said that Satan likes to eat up faith. It is so wonderful to know that when my faith is waning Jesus is praying for me. One girl in Bible Study brought up the fact also that Jesus is constantly praying for all believers. He isn't like us where we have a prayer list and we pray for a couple people a day. I don't have to worry that I won't show up on His prayer list until next week. He is constantly making intercession for believers. "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him [Christ], since He always lives to make intercession for them." --Hebrews 7:25
Since Jesus is God then we can trust that He knows exactly how to pray for us. He knows completely what God's will is and so therefore He can pray God's will. What an amazing love that God has for us!! This makes me want to pray more than I do. This makes me want to seek to have a closer and closer relationship with the Lord. Can there be anything more satisfying that drawing close to the Lord and enjoying Him and Him alone. I can be so deceived into thinking that something worldly will satisfy me more than spending time with the Lord but in the end it only leaves me more empty. When the Lord is my focus and my joy, the things of the world go dim. Like the hymn says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." I am still so far from being where I should be in my walk with the Lord, but I know that He is working in my heart and praying for me. What an amazing love!

4 comments:

Bonita said...

There is comfort in having a community of believers as yourself, caring about each other, uplifting spirits. Building our Faith is a lifetime pursuit - I wish you a happy journey.

Anonymous said...

I pray your passion for and joy in the Lord will only grow more and more with each passing day.

I love you! Mom

GWD said...

I loved having your thoughtful and heartfelt comments on my blog today. Thanks for stopping by, my dear daughter-in-law. You are a treasure!

mreddie said...

Meaningful words in that hymn - I'm so glad that we don't have to deserve His love - He just loves us. ec