Skip to main content

Religious Adjustments

“The Spirit Himself intercedes for us…” Romans 8:26

There have been those times when in grief or amidst difficult situations when I have simply sighed and groaned to our God with no audible words. It happened to me as I approached my grandfather’s casket with the intent of praying something special. In that moment, I simply knelt and nothing audible poured out. It has happened on other occasions as well when I could only sigh with tears. Has this ever happened to you?

Paul, in his letter to the Romans mentions this aspect of prayer with the following, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:26-27)

What is prayer anyway? Way too often we believe we need the proper word order or humble stance. As Christ-followers, the Spirit of God who dwells within us knows the deep intent of our soul. During those moments when we are at a loss for words, God still hears through our confusion and brokenness because of the Holy Spirit who pleads on our behalf.

Prayer Focus: Lord, how shall I pray? Are tears prayers? How about screams, groans or sighs? Can trembling hands lifted to You count as prayers? Jesus please accept my brokenness and the prayers that are rooted in the muck of my life that is imperfect.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Storyteller

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 These are the last words Jesus speaks to his Apostles just before ascending into heaven. Not what they were expecting. They were wondering when Jesus was going to set up His Kingdom on earth. As He was ascending into heaven He reveals we are the ones to accomplish the task. Jesus’ departure is not desertion; it is a commission to be the storytellers of truth to the rest of the world. Frequently, we look at this scripture in relationship to our life. We perceive Jerusalem as our own community, Judea as our city, Samaria as our country and the ends of the earth as the world. Christ informed the apostles they will have the power of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. Notice the word “and...” Jesus didn’t say...
1 comment
Read more

The Way We Pray

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 What brings answered prayer in a Christian’s life? Do you ever feel that you pray and God is silent or that you grow weary in your prayer life because it seems that God isn’t answering your heart’s desires? Could it be that many times it is because of the way we are praying? This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Taking God’s yoke on ourselves is a picture of an animal having a harness around its neck and can’t move to the right or left but only where the farmer is leading. It may seem restrictive to see God in that same way, but He wants us to follow Him looking straight ahead and keeping our eyes focused on Him and His purposes. It keeps us from getting sidetracked in our Christian walk. Then, our praying becomes asking Him for things He is desiring for us and those aro...
Post a Comment
Read more

Turning Away

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.” Matthew 24:10 In June, we talked about persecution and the reality that we all may face at some point. Jesus describes in Matthew 24 how difficult it is going to be. Amid that discussion, He says at one point, when the going gets very tough, many will turn away from the faith. Not “their” faith, but the faith. He is talking about a shared belief system. In a singular definite article, He affirms that there is only one saving faith, and that is faith in Him. And there will be those who are initially drawn to that faith when things are good or beneficial to them, but will turn away and betray and hate each other when standing up for that faith brings hardship, suffering and perhaps even death. He goes on to say, “but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And this Gospel, the Gospel of “the” faith must be preached to all nations. We can’t deviate from “the” faith. We can’t lessen the i...
Post a Comment
Read more