One of the incredible realities of being in Christ is that at any given time both the Holy Spirit and Jesus are interceding for me. They are acting as a go-between with the Father. They are standing up for me. They are intervening on my behalf.
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 CSB)
With the Holy Spirit, it is primarily focused on prayer. When I am am weak and need help, when I don’t know what to pray for as I should, the Spirit intercedes for me. The One who searches my heart, who knows everything about me intercedes for me according to the will of God.
With Jesus, His intercession is focused around what He accomplished for me through His death, burial, and resurrection.
33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26-34 CSB)
When I’m guilty of sin, when I’m tempted to fall into the pit of shame and listen to the voice of condemnation, I turn to Jesus and He intervenes. He is the one who died, but even more, has been raised, and is now at the right hand of God interceding for me. And according to the author of Hebrews, this isn’t a one time thing. He always lives to intercede for me. (Hebrews 7:25) This is good news!
So today, I choose to rest in that awesome reality. As someone who is weak, who many times doesn’t know what to pray for as I should, who often sins, who is tempted to fall into the trap of shame, I choose today to remember who I am in Christ and who is standing up for me, interceding on my behalf.
God is for me again today! Thank you, Lord!
