“Even when I’m confused about what and how to pray, the Holy Spirit is present, knowing what is going on in my life, and the Spirt lifts up my sighs to God. “
Hello Gloria Dei,
I don’t know about you, but sometimes in my prayer life, I’m not sure what to say. At times I’ll use the Psalms to help me pray. Other times I’ll think of people in my life and lift them up to God. Sometimes I’ll just simply say “Thanks”. But many times, prayer doesn’t come easy. Sometimes, words don’t come at all.
At times like this, whether it comes from being tired after a long stretch of demands, or from events in life that are confusing, or whatever the reason, Romans 8:26 gives us a tremendous promise.
“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” –Romans 8:26
I love it that even my own prayer life is not totally up to me to get it right all the time. Even when I’m confused about what and how to pray, the Holy Spirit is present, knowing what is going on in my life, and the Spirt lifts up my sighs to God.
I’ve told some of you about the retired seminary professor Andy Burgess, when I was a young man in seminary, who told me one day while we were having lunch together, “Selbo, when you get up in the morning the first thing you do is to pray for the Holy Spirit to get a hold of you. And at noon, you pray again for the Holy Spirit to fill you up. And at night, pray it again for the Holy Spirit to use you.”
As we are reading through the New Testament together this year, we are currently in the book of Romans. This week’s reading is Romans chapters 7 to 11. Romans 8:26, the verse quoted above, is included in our reading this week.
I encourage you to be faithful in your reading and in your prayer life. And in those times when you are not sure what to pray for or even how to pray, take Andy Burgess’ advice to heart. Simply pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you up. You have the promise that the Spirit will bring everything to God the Father on your behalf.
Friends, we’re just ordinary people. But just like the people in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, God does extraordinary things in us and through us.
Keep on praying. And thanks for being Spirit-Filled people, in the name of Christ.
Happy Friday and I’ll see you in worship.
Pastor Tim
