April 11th
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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 8:22-27 NIV
I read the above passage on a morning when I was depressed and feeling hopeless. I didn’t feel like praying or reading the Bible, but I knew that I had to at least read the Bible to get some life into me. As I read the passage, I felt a confirmation that this was just what I needed. I prayed briefly, “God, please help me,” and that was it. That was all I could manage to say, as the heaviness of depression covered me like a suffocating blanket.
I believed that the Holy Spirit knew what I needed and would go to work on my behalf with God. I continued to read the Bible and within a few minutes I began praying in tongues, again, believing that the Spirit was interceding for me. Like a thick fog being cleared by a stiff breeze, I felt the heaviness lift off of me. The hopelessness and depression left. My faith was recharged by God’s power and I realized that God had answered my prayers!
Prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate. The scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us as we pray. We can simply ask God to help us. We don’t have to worry that our prayer was too short or if we didn’t fully explain to God what our need is. We may not have any idea what we need, but as long as we know there’s a problem, we can trust that he will know how to help us.
We can always turn to the Bible for help in situations when we are under attack. The combination of reading the Bible and offering up simple prayers brought results in my above experience, and it will bring results for you as well. When we’re under attack we may not feel like doing anything. It’s important to make ourselves do something to get the connection open to God, who is our source of life. He wants to help us, but will not interfere in our situation until we invite him to.
For more info see our pages on speaking in tongues or praying in the Spirit.
Questions for further thought:
What does it mean to intercede for someone?
How does the fact that we have a “free will” reflect on our need to invite God to work in our lives?
How will reading the Bible help us in facing our daily circumstances? (Psalm 119:33-40; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Aside from interceding for us, what are some other functions of the Holy Spirit? (John 14:15-26; John 15:26; John 16:5-15)
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to live in me and help me. I thank you that you know exactly what I need and that you hear my prayer when I call for help. Please help me to remember to ask you for help when I need it, regardless of how I feel. Please create a hunger and thirst in me for your word, O God. Thank you for the amazing gift of the scriptures. Please open my mind and heart to them as I read. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”