Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 86 – Romans 8:26-27 – Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples
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 cannot 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 (NIV)
Troubling Days
These are troubling days there is no doubt about that. In these days of trouble, there have been numerous reasons why it has been harder to pray. Why is that? My emotions have run the gamut. They have covered the spectrum. I have been overcome with a constellation of emotions. I have been fearful. I have been angry. I have been discouraged and depressed. I have been filled with anxiety. I have been weary and worn out. I have been bewildered and confused. I have also had my doubts. Have you had doubts in me? No, but I have certainly had doubts in me. What has been troubling you? To be clear, these are not all my problems alone. It has been a tough year. There has been a global pandemic. There has been blatant racism and police brutality. There has been widespread looting and rioting. Innocent people have lost their businesses. One man lost his life in the most inhumane display of racism and police brutality I have ever witnessed. Did I mention, I have also felt nauseated and disgusted by the evil in our society. These recent events are on top of the rampant displays of hate and intolerance that has been regularly going back and forth in our deeply divided society. Could things get worse? I heard that an asteroid is headed our way. Well, not really, unless 3 million miles away, is “heading our way.” But yes, things could be worse. Sickness and disease, broken relationships and death have come near to us. It is a good time to pray. Yes, it is.
What will happen to you if you simply cannot pray? What will you do when words of prayer will not come out of your mouth? I will rely on you. I will trust you to pray in and through me, when I cannot pray. When only groans will come out of my mouth, I will trust that even my groans will come from you. You will intercede for me. You will pray through me. You will pray for me. You will lift me up. You will carry me. You will revive and refresh and restore me. You will help me to keep on moving forward with you through all the troubling days that are part of living in this sin broken world. Yes, I will pray for you. Yes, I will pray through you. Yes, I will intercede for you every day as you love, follow and serve me. Thank you, Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me to pray in all my weaknesses. You have helped me to pray when I have been overcome with emotion or confused and bewildered or weary and worn out or weak in faith. Intercede for me now, in all these troubling days. Amen
Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit made you able to pray whenever you thought you could not?
Living It Out… Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you to pray in every one of your weaknesses.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will help you to pray in every one of your weaknesses.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has helped you to pray in your weaknesses.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you to pray.
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