Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shana: This is Shana on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Aren't you glad, aren't you grateful that Jesus prays for you?

Joni Eareckson Tada: I for one am so relieved that Jesus is constantly praying for me, even now, because I need it. What with this quadriplegia and my wheelchair, what with increasing pain as I age, I am so often tempted to cave into discouragement, especially during a sleepless night when pain keeps me awake.

Now true, I pray for myself. I pray for courage and I pray for perseverance, but mostly I pray words of thanksgiving because I know Jesus is also praying for my courage and my perseverance. We don't often think about much what he's doing right now, our Savior, this minute in heaven.

We assume that Jesus is just resting up there after all he suffered on earth, like he's entered his Sabbath rest and he's waiting for the wedding supper of the Lamb. Or maybe we assume that Jesus is spending all his time building our mansion, getting things ready and just right for when we go to heaven. Or perhaps we think he's just working with the Father and the Holy Spirit and keeping the universe running.

Well, it's reasonable to think he's doing all these things, but Jesus Christ right now is doing something far more specific, and the Bible makes his focus very clear. Hebrews chapter 7 describes his current work. It says, quote, "Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them."

Right now, this minute, we are being rescued by Jesus. We're being saved by Jesus. You are being redeemed out of your brokenness by Jesus. The Lord is doing right now the work of your high priest. That's right. You need a high priest. You need someone to advocate on your behalf before God the Father. And that means right now, Jesus is praying for you and he's praying for me.

When I'm feeling discouraged, when I feel like giving in or giving up, Jesus is as much saying to God, "Father, look, I died for Joni and today I ask you to impart to her every benefit that my death and resurrection purchased for her. She is the one you picked to be my bride. She is the one you picked for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. She is the one you picked to be your child.

So grant her every privilege that you would grant me, your only son. Grant her divine anointing, divine power, grant her the strength that you gave me when I carried my cross to Calvary. Do all this, Father, that you might be glorified in the life of your child, Joni." Now, I realize those words aren't the actual words of Jesus, but I bet they're close.

And you probably get the point. And that point is yes, Jesus Christ right now is alive and he is living to intercede for us. When we pray, he pleads for us. And even when we do not pray, he is still advocating, he's still pleading our cause.

Shana: And listening friend, we can join Jesus today in advocating his cause as we go before his throne in prayer for our fellow Christians worldwide. God's doing a remarkable work right now around the world, so let's pray for renewal and revival. Join us in doing that today.

Lift up the needs of our brothers and sisters across the globe, especially weak and vulnerable people with disabilities. Please join us in praying for them, their practical needs, and for the glory of the gospel to saturate their lives.

Oh, and one more thing. We at Joni and Friends would love to pray for you and your hardships too. So share your prayer needs with us at joniradio.org. And together, let's be glad that Jesus intercedes on our behalf here in the United States and all over the world. I'll see you soon at joniradio.org.