Scripture

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.

Observation

All of creation is groaning, awaiting the new creation- the new heavens and the new earth.

Believers also groan, looking for an end to sin and suffering. We look forward to receiving our full inheritance as children of God.

In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Application

Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to direct our praying.

The world is such a broken place, people are so caught in sin, that it is hard to know how to pray for people, situations or nations. But the Holy Spirit can show us exactly how to pray. Listening to the Spirit is essential to effective prayer.

This ministry of intercession is part of the gift of tongues. When we pray in the Spirit, we are allowing the Spirit of God to direct and form the words we use. Our words, incomprehensible to us, become a part of the groaning of the Spirit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, teach me how to listen to you in my prayer times and to let you direct the words I use. Amen.