The Spirit Prays for You
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27, ESV)
For Insight
Anyone who knows me knows I am a fan of AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and the services they provide to seniors—and now to others also. I’ve been a member for quite some time, but I haven’t always paid close attention to the news or information they provide each month. I’ve just in the last few years actually begun to use my AARP app regularly and make sure I read the hard copy magazine. Recently I discovered I live in a state where people 60 and over can attend college classes for free or very little, at any state college or university. That’s pretty awesome! I also love finding out what’s showing on TV or at the movies. I find this under “Movies for Grown Ups” and have seen some great movies and shows this way.
We can be like that about the Holy Spirit. We may know Him a little bit, know of Him but not know all the things He comes to do in our life. We could spend a year or more combing our Bible for teachings on the Holy Spirit—His Person, character, power, gifts, and how the Father and Jesus sends Him to us to accomplish some very specific acts—and still not exhaust this teaching. He is a Leader, a Healer, a Comforter, a Teacher, a Guide, a Friend, a Messenger (Jesus told the apostles everything the Spirit comes to share is coming from the Father), and He is a discerner of prayer. Our frail conditions often hinder our prayer life. We don’t know what to pray in our situations and dire circumstances. We think we know our needs, but our heart is heavy, our thoughts fuzzy or blocked by our situations. So, the Spirit intercedes for us. He takes our scrambled thoughts and delivers them to the Father just as we were meaning to say but couldn’t find the words or have a clear thought.
We’ve all had those moments. Had something to pray but couldn’t quite find the right words to pray or shape. The Holy Spirit takes our scrambled or foggy thoughts right to the Father and the Father understands perfectly. Or those times life was just too much to bear, something so heavy all we could do was sigh, moan or grunt. He takes these sighs, grunts, and moans to the throne of God and God understands our need, our pain, our agony and goes to work on our situation.
In addition to my belief in AARP and all they do I am also a believer that knowledge is power and the same is true of the Holy Spirit. The more we know about Him and the more we invite Him in and let Him lead us the more empowered we will be to live this life.
Praying Romans 8:26-27
Holy Spirit thank You for taking our scrambled, unclear, incomplete, confused prayers to the throne room of God. When our lives are in turmoil or our heart is aching or burdened down and we cannot pray, You know exactly what to say on our behalf. We are fully covered, and our true needs and thought are made known to the Father. Amen
Prayer Challenge
Ask the Holy Spirit to not only come into your heart but ask Him to pray for you when you cannot pray for yourself.
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 