ROMANS ROAD DEVOTIONAL | Day 16 - Praying for People You Don’t Know
DAY 16
Romans 8:26 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. 27 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.
If I asked you to pray for your family, you would be able to do that without much difficulty. If I asked you to pray for churches in Eldoret, Kenya, you would have difficulty praying specifically for those churches. You don’t know the people of those churches in that small town in East Africa. You may have never heard of that city before. Here is the benefit of praying with and through the Holy Spirit: God knows all about the people of Eldoret, Kenya, as well as everyone and everything else in this world.
Our great weakness is not knowing. How can you pray for what you do not know? As the Scripture says, “the Spirit makes intercession for us.” It also says that the “Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” When you pray with and through the Holy Spirit you’re able to have impact in ways you could never do praying with your understanding.
For many believers, praying with the Holy Spirit also means praying in tongues (“...groanings which cannot be uttered”). This heavenly language is often misunderstood, but it is most certainly biblical (1 Cor. 14:14-15; Jude 1:20; et. al.). There are times when you cannot form the words in your mind to pray. Praying “with your understanding” is sometimes not effective. The Holy Spirit helps you to pray “as you ought.” When He is praying through you, it does not always sound like your native language. Sometimes there are actual groanings. Intercessory prayer can only happen with the help of the Holy Spirit. He is the Senior Partner in that arrangement.
Reflection Question: What are 1-2 ways you can allow the Holy Spirit to help you pray?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
_______________
From book & KIndle eBook, "Romans Road" www.VisionBooksMedia.com
