Romans 8:26-30 (NKJV)

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

These two paragraphs are among the most powerful and most quoted in all of scripture. They paint an awesome picture of God’s sovereignty and His love.

But it’s the connection between them that really makes this passage soar. The purpose laid out in the second paragraph is what drives the first.

We’ve been taught about how all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. We get that. We understand that things happen beyond our understanding and that we should trust that God knows what He’s doing—and that it’s all good.

OK then, so how should we pray? We lack the vision to know what we really need. If we want to be compatible with how all things work together, is there some way that we should pray?

This passage doesn’t tell us to change our prayers; it adds a new one. The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us because, in our weaknesses, … we do not know what we should pray for.

And these spirit prayers aren’t anything like our prayers. They’re groanings which cannot be uttered. Just think what that means.

Internal trinity communication, in its own language, can come from inside of us.

Could anything be more exciting? How can we reach that level of maturity and intensity?

It turns out that the secret to spirit led prayer is astonishingly simple. It’s right there in the text.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for

It’s being stuck! We’re at our best when we’re at a loss for words. As long as we think we know what we should pray, we just keep prattling on.

But in our weaknesses we find true connection.

In my experience, the best prayers are all tears and no words.

To subscribe to The DEEP click here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

All the weekly study guides, which include all five devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies