Vol. 17 No. 42 | October 19, 2015
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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 8:26–27, NIV84)
Aren’t you glad that you have the Spirit to help you in your weakness? On those days when fatigue has robbed you of the strength to function the Spirit helps you do what needs to be done. During those nights when your mind is so active that sleep escapes you the Spirit calms your spirit and allows you to rest. During those seasons of life when confusion and frustration characterize you more than any other words the Spirit helps function in ways you cannot understand, and often do not realize.
Aren’t you glad that when you don’t know what to pray that you have the Spirit to intercede for us? When your marriage is facing a crisis unlike any you have ever imagined the Spirit intercedes for you with groans that you cannot express with words. When your child is hurting and you are completely helpless to relieve their pain the Spirit intercedes for you with groans that expresses your feelings that your words are incapable of doing. When the members of your medical team explain that there is nothing more they can do the Spirit intercedes for you to express the agony that words are incapable of expressing.
Aren’t you glad that when you are having trouble understanding the will of God the Spirit intercedes for you to help you understand His will? When you are years into your profession but unclear if this is what you were placed here on earth to do, the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will. When life changes faster than we can comprehend the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will. When we search the Word for answers, constantly approach God’s throne seeking wisdom, and wait in patient expectation for God to reveal His plan the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will.
There are times in life when search for answers and find none. There are times in life when decisions confound us. There are times in life when people frustrate us. There are times in life when the future frightens us. There are times in life when the past haunts us. There are times when we simple do not know what direction to turn. There are times in life when we want to quit. There are times in life when nothing makes sense. There are times in life when we realize we are blessed beyond anything we could have ever imagined and cannot understand.
During all those times take comfort in knowing that, “…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.”
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.