Help In Weakness
We do not pray as we should and we need divine help
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 ESV
One of the great privileges the children of God have is the help of the Holy Spirit in praying. We need this help because we often do not know what to pray for, or how to pray.
Why do we not know what to ask? There are numerous reasons, among them are that
We are short-sighted to the full picture
We seek first what we want
We are like foolish children
We have a cold heart to praying
We are distracted or too busy
We do not pray from His Word
We are lazy and seek our comfort
We are _________________
The Spirit helps us--dwelling in us, working in us, the Spirit of grace and supplication--or else our faith is likely to fail.
Helps, is defined as: to strive along side others, gives aid in obtaining.
We might think of this as one who comes to help lift a couch or table when moving, we cannot alone so we need a helper, the Spirit is that divine Helper. We cannot without Him, and he will not without us. His help quickens our hearts by guiding our requests, steering us as it were to the plea as a captain of a ship might steer his vessel to harbor..
The Holy Spirit works upon our minds and hearts, enlightening and quickening, and thus determining our desires 'according to the will of God,' as our advocate within us. (Easton)
We are in desperate need of the divine Helper! Says Matthew Henry, the Spirit is an enlightening Spirit and teaches us what to pray for; is a sanctifying Spirit works and excites praying graces; and is a comforting Spirit silences our fears, and helps us over all our discouragements.
In our weaknesses: When we are weak, and do not know exactly how we should pray, God Himself (through the Holy Spirit) helps by making intercession for us.
Weakness, is defined as: frailty, infirmity; want, or need of strength, lacking strength—in context referring to our praying weaknesses.
How weak we are, how dependent we are and in need. We read throughout the Gospels of the desperate who came to Jesus, tearing off a roof, pushing through a crowd, climbing a tree, coming undercover of darkness, and so on. We have access to the Father at every moment, yet too often to we put off praying, if we pray at all.
The Spirit intercedes, that is goes between, and works in us and on our behalf. O to have such a one who is always ready to come to our aid. Children of God! Go to the Father sooner and ask Him.
For we know not what we should pray for as we ought--It is not the proper matter of prayer that believers are at so much loss about, for the fullest directions are given them on this head: but to ask for the right things "as they ought" is the difficulty. This arises partly from the dimness of our spiritual vision in the present veiled state, while we have to "walk by faith, not by sight." (D Brown)
Ought, is defined as: should, or necessary; as is right and proper
It is not the rhetoric and eloquence, but the faith and fervency, of our prayers, that the Spirit works, as an intercessor, in us. (M Henry)
This is one main reason we advocate praying from the Word of God. The Scriptures are our prayer manual, our guide, our starting and finishing point. They make our lists, contain the will and promises of God, and God is ever ready to answer these.
Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered--that is, which cannot be expressed in articulate language. Says David Brown, "As we struggle to express in articulate language the desires of our hearts and find that our deepest emotions are the most inexpressible, we 'groan' under this felt inability. But not in vain are these groanings. For 'the Spirit Himself' is in them, giving to the emotions which He Himself has kindled the only language of which they are capable; so that though on our part they are the fruit of impotence to utter what we feel, they are at the same time the intercession of the Spirit Himself in our behalf."
The Spirit does not do the groaning, as some imagine. We groan; we are inarticulate in our asking, and it is the Spirit who gives us aid in the proper expression of those groans. He will teach us all things, and He comes to help us in our prayer need and instructs us to the promises of God which refer to that need.
Now in the next verse:
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 8:27 ESV
According to the will of God: The Holy Spirit’s help in intercession is perfect because He searches the hearts of those whom He helps, and He is able to guide our prayers according to the will of God. (D Guzik)
As a skilled musician with an instrument plays the notes in beautiful melody, able to make the strings move exactly as needed, exactly as desired to create the song, so the Holy Spirit moves upon our hearts to desire that which is in need of prayer. He gives us the desire and we do the groaning.
May we constantly avail ourselves to this divine Help!
Praying For the People of God from the Word of God
Almighty God and Father, we pray that your Name be honored, that you rule as our king, and that the people of God would live your will. May we be strong in you and in your might. Equip us for the work of ministry, arm us against all the evil, and may your word be given to us to speak as we ought and share the gospel. Amen.
Photo by Rebecca Asryan on Unsplash