October 8, 2024

Romans 8.26 (NIV)

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

So much of my prayer life is full of my words, just talking at God, that there’s no room for the Holy Spirit to work in my prayer life.*

It has been said that one of our weaknesses is that “we are not even aware of all our weaknesses.”* If this is true, how can we be expected to know what to pray for? Jesus told us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6.11); and workers for the harvest (Matthew 9.38). He also told how not to pray (Matthew 6.5) and where to pray (Matthew 6.6).

But there are occasions when we really don’t know what to pray for. We’re afraid that we might ask for something that we shouldn’t. Maybe we aren’t comfortable enough in our relationship with God to express ourselves as openly as David did in the Psalms. Often, we are just too stressed for words. We need someone to help us understand God’s will for our prayer lives.

When Paul tells us in this verse that the Spirit intercedes for us, he is not speaking of Jesus’ role as our advocate, standing between us and the wrath of God. The Spirit’s intercession is specifically related to our prayer life.* The Spirit’s function, as described in this verse, is not just as a mediator who goes to God on my behalf and says, “This is what she means.” That is part of his job. But his job of intercession also involves coming to me and saying, “This is what you should say.”

The Spirit does not work apart from the Word so if the Word of God doesn’t dwell in me, then neither does his Spirit. When we are exposed to the Word of God, we allow the Spirit to do his work of “awakening right desires,”* and releasing us to express them. The Spirit is not moved by the eloquence of our prayers but by the sincerity of our faith. 

Praying in the Holy Spirit releases supernatural resources.*