July 24, 2019
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
There have been many times in my life where my heart was overwhelmed with a need, either for myself or others … a need that I couldn’t even find words to express. The only word that could come out of my mouth was "Help!" These verses represent an amazing truth. When we are so burdened that we simply don’t know how to articulate our hearts, there is an unseen intercessor that helps us.
The Holy Spirit, who resides in us as believers, picks up our deep emotion and literally takes the prayer to the Father on our behalf. The Father is the one who “searches the hearts” and “knows what the mind of the Spirit is,” therefore, there is no miscommunication and this communication is instant between God and His Spirit.
The Spirit voices our prayers to the Father in ways that are perfect because he always intercedes “according to the will of God.”
“As we struggle to express in articulate language the desires of our hearts and find that our deepest emotions are the most inexpressible, we ‘groan’ under this felt inability. But not in vain are these groanings. For ‘the Spirit Himself’ is in them, giving to the emotions which He Himself has kindled the only language of which they are capable; so that though on our part they are the fruit of impotence to utter what we feel, they are at the same time the intercession of the Spirit Himself in our behalf.”1
Obviously, this doesn't negate our need to pray as we can. There are encouragements to us on almost every chapter of God's Word to pray without ceasing. There must be no laziness in our prayer life, no inattention, no lack of intentional discipline.
But, think of glorious mercy of this intercession by the Spirit! We are burdened and humanly incapable of knowing how to even pray. The Spirit picks up that burden, takes it to the Father on our behalf and the Spirit prays that prayer perfectly because He is going to bring it in accordance with God’s will.
Jesus intercedes for us “daily” the Bible says at God’s right hand. The Spirit intercedes for us when we cannot get our burden discharged by ourselves. And the Father always hears and answers all of these prayers.
What a God we have and what a team in the triune God, helping us along in this life!
Our Father, thank you for your incredible care for us! Thank you that Father, Son, and Spirit are all working on our behalf to “will and work of your good pleasure.” Thank you that even unseen things are constantly happening to help us be what You desire for your glory and our good!
1 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 242). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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