Today’s Bible Journaling is from Romans 8:26, “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.” (NASB) One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to intercede for us.
We have all had times when things were so overwhelming that we just couldn’t put into words what we needed as we tried to pray. There are times that the only thing we can do is cry or moan…words just don’t come. In those times, the Holy Spirit prays what our hearts are crying for, but our words can’t say.
This verse tells us that God understands our heart’s cry. His Spirit knows the deepest desires of our hearts. I have often said that living the Christian life isn’t one of sunshine and roses, no problems, no struggles, just easy going. God never promised us that life would be like that, in fact, He told us there would be times of struggle. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (NASB)
In those times of uncertainty, pain, and outright misery, the Holy Spirit speaks for us when we hurt so badly that we can not even speak. When my first husband had his first stroke, the doctors told me that he would die if they didn’t life-flight him to another hospital to have brain surgery. Needless to say, I was scared to death. As I laid in my bed after coming home from the hospital, all I could do was sob into my pillow. I barely got out the words, “Lord Jesus” and just convulsed in sobs for a long while. I couldn’t say what I was feeling, but the Holy Spirit took over and after a while, the sobbing became less and less, and finally, I was able to breathe and fall asleep. He knew my heart.
Sarah Frazer, in her Crosswalk.com. article, says the Holy Spirit prays for us in six ways. First, He prays for us in a power we don’t own. Notice the verse says He helps us in our weakness. Ms. Frazer says, “Our weakness will run out, but the Holy Spirit will keep going. When you fall asleep, are too weak, or just emotionally exhausted, the Spirit of God steps in and gives you the strength you need to continue in prayer.”
Secondly, the Holy Spirit prays for us with wisdom we lack. We all have times when we have no idea whatsoever which way to walk. We feel like we have no clue what we are doing. That’s when the Holy Spirit speaks to us and gives us wisdom. He guides us and helps us when we feel lost or don’t know what we are supposed to do.
Third, the Holy Spirit prays for us in mercy we could not fathom. God grants us mercy. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) Satan is the one who brings condemnation, not God. When we hear Satan spout his lies of, “You’re not good enough.”, “If you were a real Christian, you wouldn’t do that.”, or “God doesn’t want you, you’re not worthy to be called His child.”, the Holy Spirit steps in and puts the enemy in his place, and then reminds us that Jesus loves us, and He gives us mercy and grace for the times we fail.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit prays for us with a connection we don’t possess. Because the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, the Spirit, the Father, and the Son have a special connection we can only imagine. But, because the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we have a connection with God that we would not have otherwise. Romans 8:35 says, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” We have a special bond with Father God because of the Spirit…He connects us.
Fifth, the Holy Spirit prays for us with God’s will in mind. When we pray, a lot of times we end up praying OUR will, not God’s. Who better to know what God’s will is than the Holy Spirit? He knows what God wants for us and He can guide us and help us to pray for the Father’s will to be done in our lives. “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.” (Romans 8:27 NIV)
Lastly, the Holy Spirit prays for us with love we can’t contain. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV) The Holy Spirit loves us more than we can even imagine, and because of this, when He intercedes for us, He does so with love. He speaks to the Father on our behalf because of His incredible love for us.
Intercession is a part of the Holy Spirit’s function, part of His ministry. When we feel like our prayers are going no further than the ceiling, it is the Spirit who helps us by praying what we can’t or praying what we need to be saying.
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