Saturday, June 18, 2016

Prayer Unspoken

The dictionary defines prayer as "an expression, especially of devout petition, addressed to God or a diety",  "an earnest entreaty".  (Webster's II New Riverside Desk Dictionary)

As Christians we address our words of prayer to God.  We believe He hears and answers our prayers. Always.  Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait, but He always answers.

Prayers can be of the simplest kind or very complex.   Small children can speak words of prayer that will reach God's ears and tug at His heart as can the greatest orators and preachers found.  Words of prayer can be focused on one particular thought, need or idea or they can be broad enough to encompass thoughts, needs and ideas for the entire world.   Our prayers can be those of complete and utter anguish or they can be full to overflowing with joyful worship of the Creator.   There are also times when we are at an absolute loss for words to speak in prayer.  It is in those times of weakness, those times of desperation that we have an intercessor that speaks on our behalf.

"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 with groans that words can not express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  Romans 8:26&27

The Holy Spirit groans on our behalf.  Close your eyes and imagine the nearly unbearable groans of a woman in labor...if you have ever heard this kind of groaning, you will know without a doubt of the pain the woman is in.  This is how earnestly the Holy Spirit entreats God on our behalf.  He groans as a woman in labor bringing our requests and needs, our hurts and most humble gratefulness to the Father. We may ask the Holy Spirit to speak on our behalf, but it is not required. God has sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter to be our intercessor for those times when we feel something so deeply we are simply unable to voice it.  We have no words.

Sometimes when we are in this state, we fail to give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak on our behalf.  We are so frozen we fail to come to God in prayer.  We do not know what to say, so we do not go to Him.  Have confidence that the Holy Spirit will speak for you.  Have faith that the Words of promise found in Romans 8:26&27 are just that - a promise.  Have faith that God keeps His promises. Have faith that your unspoken prayer will be heard and answered by the Almighty through the groaning of the Holy Spirit.




    

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