In Christ - Pt 5

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. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 ESV). Yesterday I spoke of calling on our heavenly Father “early and often.” The apostle in this section of Romans 8 helps us understand that even the content of that “calling” is undergirded by the Holy Spirit. When we pray we never pray alone. Even when praying privately we do not pray by ourselves. The Spirit prays both in us and for us. So much of the attention on prayer is devoted to our act of praying. We attend conferences on pursuing a deeper prayer life. We sometimes fall prey to the thinking that the more people we have praying the more likely it is that God will hear and answer our prayers. We ask pastors for helpful hints or strategies on a more effective prayer life. While there is certainly nothing wrong with pursuing a deeper prayer life, or asking our friends to pray for us, or finding helpful practices to enable us to pray in faithfulness, it’s important to remember that our efforts aren’t the most important thing in prayer. The most important thing is that the Spirit helps us pray. I found it amusing when I read the following list of children’s prayers:  Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. - Debbie, 7  Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. - Jimmy, 6  Dear God: How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer. - Norma, 8  Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any. - Angela, 8  Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. - Hank, 7  Dear God: Please help me is school. I need help in spelling, adding, history, geography and writing. I don’t need help in anything else. - Lois, 9  Dear Lord: Tomorrow is my birthday. Could you please put a rainbow in the sky? - Susan, 9  Dear God: I need a raise in my allowance. Could you have one of your angels tell my father. Thank you. David, 7  Dear God: I am saying my prayers for me and my brother, Billy, because Billy is six months old and he can’t do anything but sleep and wet his diapers. Diane, 8 After you finish your chuckling, think about the great truth that these children certainly understand the relationship they have with their heavenly Father. They simply ask. Isn’t that what children do? Pray, by all means pray. Pray your heart and desires, be guided by the Scriptures in your prayers. But with all the important lessons you have learned about prayer, remember this first: “the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (v. 27). Just talk to your Father in heaven!