Romans 8:18-30
Be Still: Father help me as I read your Word. By your Spirit, I want to become more like Jesus today. Amen.
Read: Romans 8:18-30
'In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.' (v26,27)
Encounter: There have been many times in my life where I have not really known how I should pray or found it hard to find the words to pray. This is particularly true for most of us in the middle of suffering.
St Paul here is contrasting our present sufferings with our future glory. He says that all creation waits in expectation, groaning for the day when the children of God (that’s us) will be revealed (our future glory). This life is full of waiting, suffering and expectation. I only have to open the BBC news app and I long for Jesus to make all things right. The promise is that in our weakness, in our present suffering, with whatever situations you face today, when we don’t know how or what we should be praying, the Spirit is praying for us in accordance with God’s will.
Take comfort in this promise and allow your wordless groans, your tears and your struggle to be Spirit-directed prayer. I have thanked God many times for the lifeline of the gift of tongues which allows the Spirit to help me in my weakness and guide my prayers. And there is great comfort knowing that all while, through our sufferings, we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
Apply: I would like my prayers today to be in accordance with God’s will. Maybe articulate words aren’t what is needed right now. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Be bold, speak out or sing in the Spirit – pray, using the gift of tongues (even for a few minutes) and allow the Spirit to intercede for you.
Devote: Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness to pray in alignment with your will. In Jesus’ name.