As a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, godmother, granddaughter, or friend, we are uniquely suited to serve as INTERCESSORS before God on behalf of those we love.

In Christ Jesus, Christian women are spiritually a holy, royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), Jesus having made us "priests to His God and Father" (Revelation 1:6). One of the roles of an Old Testament priest was that of INTERCESSOR.

When the priest went into the Holy Place to minister before the Lord, he wore an ephod and a breastpiece carrying stones with names engraved upon them, the names of the tribes of Israel. Each name of the 12 sons of Israel was carved onto those stones, and when the priest came into God's presence, he carried those names before the Lord.

"So Aaron [the priest] shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD. ...and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly." (Exodus 28:29-30)

THREE TIMES, we read that the priest carried those names "on his heart," literally wearing a garment over his heart to bring into God's presence the names of His children. Aaron brought the people "to regular remembrance before the LORD," coming to God to "bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly." This "judgment" refers to giving a verdict or making a decision.

Wait a minute! Can you and I enter the Holy Place before the throne of the Almighty Judge and King to intercede on behalf of our loved ones? What audacity! What presumption!

Only on ONE condition can we boldly approach the throne as a priest to God, carrying our loved ones over our hearts. Our way must be paved by THE Intercessor and the ONLY mediator, Jesus Christ.

He bore YOUR name and MY name as the Eternal High Priest, the High Priest who is also our Sacrificial Lamb. With our names engraved on His heart, on the cross He bore our sins and endured the wrath of the just and holy God IN OUR PLACE, and now He "ever lives" to make intercession for us! (Hebrews 7:25)

For all who look to Him to be rescued from their sin, for all who are clothed in HIS righteousness and for whom HE has interceded, we participate in his priesthood and have access through prayer to the Father. We join in the ministry of Jesus Christ as intercessors on the basis of "the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all..." 1 Timothy 2:5.

But do you feel like a feeble intercessor? Do you wonder at times how to even pray for the loved ones on your heart?

We know from Romans 8:26 that we do not even know how to pray as we ought, but God has made provision for us! While we imitate our own Great High Priest, the perfect INTERCESSOR, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 7:25), we have the Holy Spirit within us, making utterance before the Father with groanings too deep for words. Our resident Teacher and Guide, the Holy Spirit, makes effectual our work as priests to God and intercessors before His throne.

We have the awesome privilege and responsibility to ACT on behalf of our families and friends as INTERCESSORS in our priestly role before our Father. We can boldly approach the throne of grace with our own loved ones on our hearts, bringing them to regular remembrance before the Lord.

As you pray for your families and loved ones, you are bearing before God the names of your husband, your children, your church, your siblings, and all those that God has laid on your heart. Because our Mediator and great Intercessor, Christ Jesus, has gone before us in His blood to rip asunder the curtain that separated us from God's presence, Christian women can lift their hearts in prayer to the God who is satisfied with the atoning sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. We can come before a holy God with confidence, finding mercy and grace to help in time of need.

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

How to Pray for Your Family and Friends