The Holy Spirit plays an active role in the lives of believers from salvation to glorification. Sometimes, it’s not always evident or clear what that role is. We’re in the middle of our closer look at what He does, learning how He helps us and why Jesus said it was to our advantage that He go away and the Holy Spirit comes (John 15:7). Paul tells us the Spirit helps in our prayers.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26
This verse (like much of Paul’s writing) is dense. So let’s look at the pieces and grasp what Paul is telling about our prayers and the Spirit’s work in them..
- We are weak – This is not news, but it is important to keep that squarely in mind when we pray. We should not presume to stride into God’s presence with a to-do list and a deadline for Him. We need the Spirit’s help to pray. Here’s an analogy. Have you ever asked for advice or help writing a paper or a resume or even a letter? Sometimes getting feedback helps with our tone and clarity. An editor can help you trim the unnecessary parts and find more effective words to communicate.
On a much deeper level, the Spirit helps our prayers by taking our muddled, scattershot ramblings and transforming them into something the Father not only receives but gets glory from. Isn’t that our ultimate goal?
- We don’t know what to pray for – We think we do. We see needs around us and we pray. But we don’t have the infinite knowledge God does. Let me give you an example. Let’s say your brother Scott’s company has announced a round of layoffs. It would be reasonable for us to pray that Scott not be one of those who loses his job. However, what we don’t know is that God has provided another opportunity for Scott which will not only be a better job, but a chance for Scott to use his gifts for God’s kingdom. So, is would actually be better for Scott get laid off from his present position. There’s not way we can know that though. That’s why we need the Spirit’s help in our prayers.
The Spirit sees your heart’s desire for Scott to be able to provide for his family. He also sees the Father’s greater purposes. So when the Spirit delivers that prayer, it is exactly what it needs to be. Unfortunately, when Scott gets laid off, our typical reaction is frustration that God didn’t answer our prayer.
In that case, we can lean on the Spirit once again, who helps with our understanding.
- We don’t know how to pray – We like to simplify and strip prayer down to just talking to God, and in some sense it is. But it is very easy to turn prayer time into a gripe session or time to unload our demands. The Spirit convicts us of the sin in our hearts and prompts us to confess. The Spirit fills us with praise that spills out in our prayers. The Spirit helps us be still and listen. The Spirit disciplines us to the holy habit of prayer. The Spirit strengthens our faith in the Father we pray to. The intimacy with God that we need for effective prayer develops through the work of the Spirit in our lives.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit, like Paul, we don’t know what we are doing when we pray. It is an inscrutable wonder that we in our profound lowliness have access to the infinite, holy Creator King. When it comes to prayer, we need the Spirit to do the heavy lifting. He intercedes for us. He is the go-between taking our immature, limited, self-centered prayers and delivering to the Father the petitions that honor Him.
Next time, we’ll finish up with how the Spirit helps in our worship.