I was thinking about our theme verse for January, Romans 8:28. And when I went to look it up in my Bible, I was reminded which verses come right before that.Romans 8:26-27:
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 sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
I’ve always loved those verses. Have you ever been at a point where you were so scared or traumatized or grieving that you found you couldn’t even pray? I have. I’ve been there more than once, and it’s not a good place to be.
But I’m so thankful that part of this Bible passage was tucked away in my memory, and that God brought it to mind. It was a comfort to know that though all I could do was just groan in pain and grief, the Spirit was interceding for me. I felt as if God was holding me in His hands.
I love how The Message states it:
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
What a comfort.
Have you been to the point where you didn’t know how or what to pray?
Missy
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Wow, that is a great verse. Yes, I've been to a point where I didn't even WANT to pray. Didn't know how. Didn't want to try and figure it out.
ReplyDeleteI asked a mentor-type and he said, "you just said a prayer right there."
Yeah, he said to pray that. Tell God,"Help, I don't want to pray, I don't know how..."
Best advice I ever got. God already knows what's going on in my heart, I don't have to articulate it. I just have to bring it to HIM. He'll carry me.
Very good point, Lynn. Sometimes it's not that we can't. It's that we just don't want to. We might be angry with God or whatever. But He knows already. And He wants us to talk to Him about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by this morning, Lynn.
Missy
Missy -- That is a wonderful verse and, yes, there have been times I've been overwhelmed (usually with worry - which is a wasted emotion anyway) that I could barely pray. What a comfort to have that verse.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I'm a big worrier, too (am always working on that!). And I've had those scared moments where my teenager didn't show up by curfew and wasn't answering his phone. Things like that that paralyze us with fear. And I've called on this verse in those times as well.
ReplyDeleteMissy
Hey Missy, yes, I've been where I didn't want to pray and I always knew why. Usually there was sin and temptation involved in some way.
ReplyDeleteI've also been at the place where I didn't want to go to church.
And I know as sure as there's a God that when I don't want to pray or go to church is the time I need to be in the fellowship of other believers.
Great post, Missy! What a comfort to know that God is there for us to lean on even when we don't know what to say. ~ Thanks for sharing that verse. Hugs, Patti Jo :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm so glad I "discovered" this blog - -thanks to reading about it on YOUR blog! Love it! :)
Oh, Anita, you said it. I almost posted that the time I most 'don't' want to pray is when I'm so angry at someone that I don't want to pray about them because usually my prayer because WHY Lord instead of HOW Lord.
ReplyDeleteAnita Mae, you made some great points. If we don't watch it, we can get in a rut, or in a bad cycle of staying away from other believers (because we know we'll feel conviction!). :)
ReplyDeletePatti Jo, I'm so glad you found us! Also, we'll be having contests every month for LI books!
ReplyDeleteMissy
Pamela, I totally understand that. I've been mad/hurt so badly that I didn't want to pray for the person who caused it. But I finally felt convicted to pray for that person. And I ended up feeling so much better!
ReplyDeleteMissy, I have been in a place of not knowing what to pray.
ReplyDelete"Help?" always works wonders. LOL.
Great post.
Cheryl