The answer
To ask someone to pray and intercede for you is a biblical commandment "Pray for one another" (James 5:16). God listened to Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah and was willing to spare them if He had found ten righteous (Genesis 18:18-33). God did not forgive Abimelech until Abraham prayed for Abimelech according to God's own demand (Genesis 20:6-7).Believe that the saints who have departed are alive; and can intercede for us before the Lord. They hear our prayer as God reveals it to them. They intercede for us and God considers their intercession when answering our prayers.
God is above time; and does not change His mind. Through His foreknowledge, He knows how many prayers and intercessions will be offered to Him regarding every situation. He knows before hand if you will ask the saints to intercede for you; and He bases His decision upon His foreknowledge of your actions.
Have faith in the intercession and in praying for one another; for He taught us "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19-20).
Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)