thing, however, that we must not forget: our prayers would be valueless without the Lord's great ministry of

intercession for us.

While intercession for others is a real and vital ministry for all saints, we rejoice to know that our Saviour is

constantly remembering us and interceding on our behalf. He is now glorified at the right hand of God `Who also

maketh intercession for us' (Rom. 8:34). We can rest assured that He knows us and all our needs far better than we

do ourselves and this gracious ministry is without ceasing, full and perfect.

Moreover it is vitally connected with our Christian witness and growth in grace which is linked up with our

`perfecting' or in the New Testament sense of the word, reaching the goal of the new life in Christ, namely spiritual

maturity. Hebrews 7:25 tells us He is not only able to save, but also able to save to the uttermost (literally, to all

perfection or maturity), `seeing that He ever liveth to make intercession for them', that is those who come to God

through Him.

How fragrant and wonderful must be this present ministry of the Ascended Christ on our behalf! It brings before us

once more the tremendous debt we owe Him not only for His redeeming and atoning work on the Cross, but also for

this precious and vital work for us now.

Realising this afresh, let us go forward undaunted and with full assurance as we rest upon His redeeming love and

all the gracious provision that goes with it, together with His wondrous and continual intercession for us now.

And so we end, appreciating we sincerely hope, the great importance that prayer, based on a `rightly divided' Word

of God, should occupy in the life of the believer in Christ.

It is surely true to say that a prayerless life is a fruitless life. May we constantly avoid this.