Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for, as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints, according to the will of God. Romans 8: 26, 27, NKJV
Holy Father, we are listening for a Word from You as we study; in Jesus’ name; Amen
I truly believe that if we could understand the role that the Spirit plays in prayer we would have a much more powerful prayer life! Let us take a look at the first premise:
“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.” Some versions read, “in our infirmities” (illnesses). Is it spiritual illness that has affected our prayer life? Is that why we do not know how to pray? Or perhaps, do not want to pray? Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus asked Peter, James, and John, to, ” ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there…stay here and watch with me…’ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What! Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak‘ ” (Matthew 27: 36, 38, 40, 41). Emphasis provided.
I am sure that when the disciples saw the Savior agonizing in a way that they had never seen Him agonize before, their natural impulse must have been to rush to His assistance. Instead they continued sleeping! That was not normal! Here is an interesting quotation: “They did not intend to forsake their Lord, but they seemed paralyzed by a stupor which they might have shaken off if they had continued pleading with God. They did not realize the necessity of watchfulness and earnest prayer in order to withstand temptation” (The Desire of Ages, p. 607). Yes my friends, we are under a stupor that the evil one has cast over us. But, praise be to God; we can shake it off, if we continue “pleading with God[!]”
“We do not know what we should pray for, as we ought” Isn’t that something? There seems to be two issues at stake here. We do not know what we should pray for; and, we do not know how to pray for it (whatever it is). We really need help, don’t we? Thank God for the Spirit! The original word for help also carries the idea of “coming to help.” That is just wonderful! I imagine when the Spirit looks and sees us struggling in prayer, He rushes to our aid, and at times gives us the right words; but I believe that more often, He puts in our hearts, the right desires (to ask for the things that we really need). It is very comforting to know that God is interested in every aspect of our lives. And I believe, of primary interest to God, is our prayer life, since it is in prayer that we “[open our] heart to God as to a friend” (Steps to Christ, p. 64). A friend is interested in what we have to say. What we say gives others an idea of what is going on on the inside.
It is as we pray that we reveal what is important to us. What do we pray about? What do we ask for? Why do we want what we want? Now, if we don’t know what to ask for, nor how to ask for it, how can we expect to receive whatever it is we are praying about? That is where the invaluable intercession of the Spirit comes in. This is profound. Tomorrow we will continue with this topic.