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>>>>If you have ever asked your mother or one of your brothers or sisters to pray for you, then you have no basis for objecting to my asking Mary to pray for me. Mary is among the saints in Heaven, and Revelation tells us that the saints in Heaven pray for us who are here on earth.<<<<

Revelation says no such thing. There is no example in the Bible of someone praying to the dead. The only thing close is Saul’s sin of visiting the witch in hopes of conjuring Samuel from the grave. That did not end well for Saul.

Why do you suppose Paul struggled with whether to be with Christ, or to stay in his body on Earth? He explains, it was more beneficial to Believers for him to stay. If he was with Christ, he could no longer be a blessing to Believers, he could no longer teach them and pray for them. (Philippians 1:21-30) Physical death is the separation of the inner man from the outer man, or the soul and spirit from the body (James 2:26). Without a body, man is Eternal (out of time so to speak). He no longer has authority on the Earth. God gave man dominion over the Earth for a time. Man cannot exercise dominion without a body, without being in the temporal world. While on Earth, we are spiritual beings (speaking spirits created in the image of God), with a soul, in a body (flesh). You can choose to walk in the spirit, or in the flesh, but you need both to exercise authority here on Earth. Note the key qualifier in Matthew 18:19, and the presence of Jesus.

Matthew 18:18-20 (AMP) — Emphasis added in verse 19
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.
19 Again I tell you, if two of you ON EARTH agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.

Those who are no longer in their bodies, who have died in the Lord, rest from their labors and finished their course. (2 Timothy 4:6-8, Revelation 14:13) They are not servants to those who remain on Earth. I have a great cloud of witnesses - parents and grandparents who were all Spirit-filled Believers who are with God as I type. They can do nothing for me now. They have offered all praise, prayers, and released their faith while on the Earth. It is now my turn. I must have faith in God’s Word. Certainly, you can pray for others who are alive, and request their faith and prayers, but you will never truly mature as a Believer until you stand on your own faith, and walk in the spirit, not the flesh.

ALL forms of idolatry are off limits to a Believer, including necromancy, soothsaying, socery, and divination. Why? Because Believers DON’T NEED THEM!!!! All those practices divert your attention from the ONLY MEDIATOR between you and God, Jesus. (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5) The moment you turn to other mediators, or to think you need heavenly assistance other than Jesus, you are deceived. Deception is Satan’s best weapon. God’s Word, His Truth, is your best defense, and a far superior weapon. (John 8:44, Acts 13:10, 2 Corinthians 11:3-15, Ephesians 6) As Isaiah asks, should not a people seek and consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isaiah 8:19)

Ask yourself this question. Why do you need Mary, or anyone else in Heaven or on Earth for that matter, to approach God on your behalf? Do you think God plays favorites? (Deuteronomy 10:17, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Psalm 86:1-5, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11, 10:10-13, Ephesians 6:9-10, 1 Peter 1:14-19) No! If you are led by the Spirit, you are a CHILD of God. You may be a spiritual infant, but grow up by feeding on His Word and grab hold of the Truth that you have standing with God. You can BOLDLY enter the throne room at any time, approach your Heavenly Father as freely as natural children visit their fathers. (Hebrews 4:16) Jesus promised, If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14) And just in case his disciples missed this Truth, he repeated it a short time later, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (John 16:23) Why? Look back at John 14:13 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Whatsoever covers just about everything. And note who gets the glory - not you, not any saint, and certainly not Mary.

But wait, there’s more! A further look at John 14 reveals a remarkable Truth for Believers.

John 14:15-18 (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:23-27 (KJV)
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Wow! God Himself dwells in Believers. Tell me again why I need to consult those who are no longer with us?

And if that was not enough for you...

Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

All of Ephesians is full of revelation, but focus for a moment WHERE the Believer is IN CHRIST.

Don’t doubt your faith, or your standing IN CHRIST. Go boldly before your Heavenly Father, BELIEVE His Word and receive everything He has prophesied for and about you. They may be promises to you, but they are prophetic for God, because every Word from God is incorruptible Seed, and it will accomplish what He desires. (Psalm 119, Isaiah 55:10:11, Matthew 7:21-28, 13, 24:35, Luke 4:4, Hebrews 4:11-16, 1 Peter 1:13-25)

One final thought, the vast majority of your prayer time should be praise and fellowship with your Father, and only a small portion concerning requests, intercession, or petitions. Jesus has already told you in Matthew 18, John 14 and 16 (and also Mark 11) how to have confidence in your prayer requests. So what can those who have finished their race add to this? How could you have fellowship with those in Heaven without violating God’s clear commandments against such practices, not to mention overcoming the barriers between those on Earth and in Heaven? (Leviticus 19:31, 20, Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Luke 16:19-31)