[tbpiper]

God Himself has opened his thrown room to us and commanded us to bring our petitions to Him. Why would I want to go to an underling?

Besides, what's the pecking order for saints hearing prayers? Or do you give strictly divine qualities, i.e., omniscience, to the saints?

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Why would I want to go to an underling?

Because we are all part of the Body of Christ. Our relationship with God is "horizontal" as well as "vertical," so prayers go horizontally and vertically.

1 Tim 2:1

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Matthew 5:44

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

The Body of Christ on earth, the Church Militant, is united to the Body of Christ in Heaven, the Church Triumphant. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Rev. 5:8

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.

We pray for each other on earth, we ask the saints in heaven to pray for us, and the saints in heaven present our prayers to God.