"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
Romans 8:26-27
Romans 8:26-27
These verses have brought me great comfort over the years, comfort and power, comfort, power, and peace. I used to try to figure out the situation that needed prayer by asking others, "in the name of Jesus," what was going on. Having more information could help me pray better, I justified. Praise God I have grown-up in prayer life.
Now, the less information I have the better my prayers are because I claim and recite Romans 8:26-27. Praying these verses bring comfort to my distress, power to my weakness, and peace to my restlessness. Praying these verses keeps me from praying my agenda for the situation or person.
I love that I don't understand the groanings. The Spirit and the Father have there own love language. Isn't that beautiful? The beauty also comes with the trust that they will work all things together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.
I find myself praying Romans 8:26-27 today for a friend. I am trusting in her love for God so He can work all things together for her good according to His purpose. His purpose is to bring her a hope and future that is good and prosperous.
Today's reading was full of things to be thankful for. I pray each of you have a blessed day of giving thanks for the multitude of blessings you have been given.
11 Comments:
I join your prayer Wendy, and I also trust in God to work all things according to His purpose for those who love and serve Him!
For those of you in the US, I send heartfelt hopes for a blessed Thanksgiving day with friends and family. In Basel here, some of us ex-pats are gathering for dinner at one house. Turkey is expensive and not very available, so I think we are stuffing chicken. But it is the fellowship that I celebrate! I am thankful for so many things this year! Top on my list is that I am thankful I found this study, this site, and this group. You all have enriched my life so much and buoyed me as I made this move across the pond. Even though there have been times where loneliness threatens to overtake me, I turn to the One who can fill all my empty places and I rest. You have modeled that behavior for me, and I thank you.
I am also thankful that the "Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." Day and night I bookend my time with time dedicated to prayer. I have fallen away from a practice I had where I sat in the dark, emptied my mind, and let God fill it. I need to go back to that practice. He places in my mind thoughts of people, situations, messages for me, and the Spirit within me responds. I need to rededicate myself to this so I can hear clearly and pray effectively.
Be blessed my friends this day,
Karen
I love it Wendy!! I aso liked "Nothing can EVER separate us from God's love ... neither our fears for todayy nor our worries about tomorrow ... can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38.
Even my current "fears for today" .. on this Thanksgiving day there are many fears - family getting along, the food turning out right, etc. but none of that will separate me from Gods love. For some reason this verse spoke to me in that simple way today.
Happy Thanksgiving!
And Karen I too put this group and experience at the top of my list. It has been an incredible blessing.
Jeannie - Virginia
Wendy, I really appreciate your comments this morning about the "less information I have the better my prayers". Knowing the Holy Spirit that lives within us also prays for us says heaps and bounds. The thought comes to my mind, "less of me and more of Him."
Karen, thanks for sharing about your practice of letting God fill your mind. What a wonderful idea; years ago I did something similar but haven't gone there in a long time. I always look forward to your insights, I am so glad you are here.
This Thanksgiving, I am deeply thankful for this journey of reading through the Bible in a year. It has brought me such joy to gather new friends, new insights, and most importantly a renewed walk with my Lord.
Thanking God for you,
nancy
Wendy, this is the exact passage that spoke deeply to me this morning too. After a restless night, I grabbed my Bible and tears flowed as the Lord ministered to my heart so specifically through His Word.
I've written my response on my blog, but unfortunately now, time has passed and I must be out the door in just over half an hour for some medical tests. Would greatly appreciate all your prayers today. (Details explained on my blog.)
Wendy, this has been so much further encouragement to me. Claiming His peace. Knowing groanings will change to guidance as I keep trusting.
Hugs,
Joy
Happy Thanksgiving Wendy and Sisters,
I am thankful for this group and this journey this year as well. You all have been such a blessing to me and I know will continue to be so next year :) I am also thankful that "nothing can ever separate us from God's love" (Romans 8:38).
I was reminded yesterday about how truly blessed I am. We had our fall cleaning done to our heat unit and they found a hole in the heat exchanger. While the gas is running it is releasing carbon monoxide in our home. We might have gone all winter with this gas in our house if we had not had this tune up done early in the season. This is an unexpected expense and it is going to mean forgoing some of our plans next year to pay for it, but I am so thankful that they found it before something got worse and thankful that we have a home that does need maintenance. I kept telling myself all day yesterday as all this was going on, "Brandee, you gave this day to the Lord first thing in the morning. He is in control. Don't grumble, don't complain, keep giving this to Him minute by minute if need be." My tongue slipped a few times, but I immediately said "no, I am not going there, Lord You are in control." What was bothering me the most is that I am not going to be able to send my husband to San Diego next summer for the comic book convention like I had planned for his Christmas present, but God knows now what is going to be going on next July and there is always a reason. Today I am thankful and I am blessed.
Blessings and love coming all your way today,
Brandee, TN
Joy, we are praying!
On this beautiful Thanksgiving morning, "O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever," and ever. (Psalm 30:12) My heart is filled with praise, as I lift up thanks to my Father,for my many blessings this year; one,in particular,this group! You've modeled obedience to us in reading God's Word, dear Wendy! The daily scriptures come alive to me through each one of you on this blog. I love each one of you to pieces! Thank you so very much for your insight and wisdom!
Wendy, I too love the verse you talked about. I am so comforted knowing that the Holy Spirit of God, not only counsels me throughout my day; but, is praying for me, as well! When I don't know how to express my feelings to God, the Holy Spirit prays and expresses them for me! The Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I can't pray for myself! And, since the Holy Spirit knows God's Will for me, the Holy Spirit knows how to pray according to His Will! I love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, here's the good part...I did something this week that I've never done before, and I know it was the Holy Spirit guiding me to do it! My one teenager was anxious re: a particular situation that he had coming up. I wanted him to have peace knowing God was with him. So, as I was praying it hit me, if my son won't pray, then I'm going to ask the Spirit to speak the words for him. So, I interceded, I prayed, asking the Spirit to intercede for him, and to give him the words to pray in his heart! Oh, how I wish I could tell you the details because God's glory was blinding! He put my son in a situation that he knew was hopeless, then my son prayed, and God showed up in a huge way. My son, not only prayed, but knew without a doubt, God was with him. He thanked him. This situation increased my son's faith. And, that is a daily prayer I have, that his faith in God would daily increased. Thank you, LORD!!!
Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!
Blessings, hugs, love, & prayer's coming your way! Lori - AZ
Thanks for that story about your son.
The Lord will provide for all your needs Brandee, and many of your wants. So thankful you found out about this now.
Joy-remembering you.
"The Spirit and the Father have their own love language". That really struck me Wendy. Thanks for that.
Blessed Thanksgiving Day to you all. Soooo many to pray for right now. I sometimes feel overwhelmed...but it helps to know the Spirit prays for me.
Morgen
Thanks for your prayers friends. The tests went better than anticipated and I truly was at peace - that HAD to be God. :) The technician said I would probably hear back on Monday, although my Dr's receptionist said she will be keeping an eye out for the results and could be phoning tomorrow.
There truly is a peace that passes understanding and I experienced it today. Thank you all so much for interceding on my behalf. Please continue to pray that whatever needs to be discovered through these tests will be evident and a solution can be put in place. Pain 24/7 isn't nice.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I'm thinking I should purchase a small turkey and join in on the fun. It would get my mind off other things. I just might do that! :)
Hugs,
Joy
Today's reading was really inspiring. Wendy and everyone else, the same verses spoke to me.
Karen, I appreciate your telling us how you emptied your mind and let the Spirit speak to you. I had been doing that in a way, but will make it a definite practice from now on.
I have enjoyed the study this year by Wendy and all of you that post regularly. I have grown so much in the Lord, and can't wait to do it all over again.
One of you spoke about Stormie Omertain's book Praying Through the Bible. I have ordered it, and am looking forward to using it starting in the new year...can I wait that long??? :).
This week, our son got the news that he will be deployed...again.. for the 3rd time... next year about the 1st of Dec. They haven't told him where he is going yet, though. Please add him to your prayer list. His name is Byron. Everyone talks about how wives suffer when their husbands are deployed, but moms, especially, and dads have a burden that is even greater...those boys have been their sons longer than the time they have been married.
Here is where I leave it up to the Holy Spirit to pray for me and Byron. He knows what my son needs more than I do.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I will have all 11 of my kids, spouses, and grandkids here for supper. A true blessing!!!!
Joy, praying for you.
Jan TN
Post a Comment
Home