Monday Romans 8:22-27

Prayer: O God, we thank you for your Holy Spirit who hears our pain and our joy even when we cannot express the words. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pray with the Spirit

(Adapted from Christ in Our Home – daily devotions)

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. 

In Thessalonians, Paul says to pray without ceasing. What does that mean? How can we pray constantly? Certainly, I cannot pray with every waking moment. Certainly we don’t always have the words or even the thoughts to express what we are feeling or wanting. Life’s distractions distract us from prayer, and what about when we move away from God and forgotten how to pray. Maybe we even have no confidence that our prayers will be heard?

I think, it means to face every situation with the awareness of God’s presence, and when we can’t know that God’s Spirit still sees and hears our needs. When we are faced with overwhelming challenges, it is good to know that in our pain and/or tears that the Holy Spirit hears our prayers through the tears and the fears.

Our devotion writer declares: “God’s grace and care are always at work in our lives. We can trust that through the Holy Spirit, we are connected to God, loved, and even prayed for, whether we are able, in those moments, to do anything at all.”

Prayer: “Holy Spirit, give us words to pray.  When we cannot, thank you for praying for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Romans 8:22-27

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, ²³ and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.