Article written by: Sister Patricia Smith, Grandmothers of Hope Society, Inc.
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34
Growing up in Williamston, SC, it was always comforting to know that my Grandmother Essie was praying for me. Many times, her prayers for me and others were taken for granted but after she passed away, I became more aware of just how much her prayers had meant to me. After she went home to be with the Lord, I strayed quite a bit from the path God planned for me. My struggles with sin and trying to live a worldly lifestyle eventually led me to have to call on the name of Jesus for myself— I called the One who I learned about as a child—the One to whom my grandmother prayed. The Lord heard my cry and interceded on my behalf. He answered my desperate pleas, and by the grace of God, He poured out His Spirit, and raised up godly mentors, friends, and family to help me return to the lighted path. The Holy Spirit lead me back to the path from which I wandered, and as a result, I am growing more and more each day in the knowledge of God and have deepened my relationship with the One with whom I will spend eternity…All because of the intercession of Jesus.
Hearing my grandmother often praying and interceding for me, provided me with strength, security, comfort, and confidence. But just like my grandmother’s prayers served to encourage me through my young life’s struggles, I grew to realize there was another who is always praying for me. He is the risen Savior who lives forever and is daily interceding on my behalf.
I am thankful God made preparations for me, and for those like me, who depended on the prayers of other Christians, but who eventually pass away and leave us behind. The bible says “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:23
If like me, you’ve experienced the loss of loved ones whom you knew were interceding for you on a regular basis, or if you’ve felt alone at times thinking no one cares or is praying for you, please realize that Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for you, too.
1 Timothy 2:5 tells me, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” So, this tells me that Jesus’ ascension to Heaven didn’t stop His ministry. And along with paying the price for my sins, He still lives and serves as my advocate before the Father. So then why, pray tell, might we think I would still need an advocate? “I need an advocate because I have an adversary, the devil, who is always seeking to devour me.” 1 Peter 5:8. I call him the enemy.
As the scriptures says, “No one is righteous—not even one.” Romans 3:10. And like my ancestors, I was born a sinner, passed on through generation, after generation– originating from the garden experience. John writes in 1 John 2:1, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Because the Lord, Jesus who knew no sin was persecuted, suffered, and crucified, carried my sin to the grave in my place, it is through Him, by Him and because of Him that I am made righteous so that I will see the Father one day. “Jesus is my High Priest because he offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for my sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Hebrew 10 :12. Can you BELIEVE that!
During my walk, the Lord revealed that Jesus is praying for me in heaven, as Hebrews 7:25 reads, “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since Jesus always lives to make intercession for me”. In addition, in my favorite and last recorded prayer of Jesus before His death, resurrection and ascension back to heaven, Jesus prayed to His Father for me. In John 17 verse 26, He prayed, “I have declared the Father’s name to Patricia, and I will declare it.” I BELIEVE, God’s Word is true, and even now, Jesus is sitting on the right hand of His Father still “declaring it,” still teaching and still guiding me by the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as interceding to the Father on my behalf when I don’t always hit the mark. I will always be a sinner until death, but because of His grace, righteousness, and work at the cross, I strive to sin less and am not condemned before the Father. Hebrews 9:24 tells me that Jesus returned to Heaven to appear for me in God’s presence. My Lord has not taken His priestly duties, nor His promises to us lightly, but rather He carried His love and concern for us to the very throne room of God. Hallelujah! God is faithful and worthy to be praised! Thank You, Jesus!
It is so comforting for me to know, now, that, when I heard my Grandma Essie’s prayers of intersession for me so many years ago, that Jesus was, is and will continue to a plead my case before the Father as is written in Romans 8:34.
And because my grandmother prayed for me, I now pray for each of my own grandchildren. I pray that they might come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Might I encourage all grandmothers to do the same for your families, as our lives on earth are only temporary and the time, we have left to advocate for them is limited as we age. Though I may not live to see all of my grandchildren saved, I can be confident that the Lord Jesus hears my prayers and will continue to advocate for them, even after I’m gone home to be with Him.
SONGS
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for always making intercession for me and my family. Thank, you, too, for the gift of my precious children and grandchildren. Proverbs 17:6, reads, “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” What a privilege it has been to see them growing up and learning about You. I lift each one up to You, Lord, and I pray that by Your grace and love You would surround them with Your love throughout their lives. Please guard, guide, and protect them from the enemy. May each one come to know You, Lord, as their personal Saviour and may they all come to a deep understanding of who You are and all that You have done for them. I pray that each one would accept You into their hearts as their Lord and Saviour, and keep their hearts and minds turned toward You and trusting Jesus for their every need. Protect them from the mindset of the world that is contrary to the truth of Your Word and lead them to grow in Your grace and grow stronger in their faith as they develop in wisdom and discernment. Lead them not into temptation; but deliver them from the evil one so they can develop into responsible adults who will teach their own children the wonderful truth of salvation through Your Son. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
BIBLE REFERENCES
Romans 3:10, 8:34
Hebrews 7:23-25, 9:24, 10:12
1 Timothy 2:5
1 Peter 5:8.
1 John 2:1
John 17:26
Article written by Sister Patricia Smith
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry
Board Member