When You Don’t Know What to Say

“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.”  ROMANS 8:26

 

PONDER THIS

For the last several years, I have been praying, "Oh God, hear my prayer, God hear my prayer." I've stained Heaven with my prayer. But God said to me some while back, "Adrian, I've heard your prayer. I know what you're asking for and I'm going to answer your prayer, not the way you think, but more wonderful than you think." What a peace that was to my heart.

All of us are there sometimes. We pray, “God, I think it's this” or “I think it's that” or sometimes, “Lord, I don't know.” When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Thank God we are asking for one thing, and God's Holy Spirit says, “Now Father, there's Adrian. He's down there asking for something. He's sincere. This is what he thinks he wants, but God, this is what he needs.”

You don’t have to have your prayer well-worded; the Lord hears your heart. He will provide what you need even when you don’t know how to express it.

When have you been at a loss for words? How does it feel to know you can approach God even when you feel that way?

What are some prayers you need to entrust to God? How have you tried to handle things on your own?

PRACTICE THIS

Surrender to God the confusing situations you have tried to figure out on your own.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

A Four-Ton Problem with a Two-Ton Truck

“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” ROMANS 8:34-35

 

PONDER THIS

A word is like a vehicle that delivers a thought from one person to another. My words are the vehicles getting my thoughts to you. But sometimes, there are thoughts that are too heavy for the truck. We might have a four-ton problem and a two-ton truck. We may have something about which we don’t know what or how to ask. And there are times we just don’t know what to do.

The Bible says, “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). One translation phrases it, “Sighs that are too deep for words” (RSV). The word groaning is used for labor pains. In these moments, a mother is not making a speech, she’s just in agony. Likewise, we may have something that needs to be delivered, and the Holy Spirit of God makes “groanings which cannot be uttered.” It’s a form of inarticulate prayer.

I’ve been there. Some years ago, there was a problem in our family. It broke my heart. I stained Heaven with my prayers. At times, I would just say, “Oh, God,” and that was it. But the Holy Spirit was saying, “Father, Adrian doesn’t know what to ask for, but I know.” The Holy Spirit can do the same for you today. Go to God with your grief. He will sort out the rest.

When have you gone to God with your grief? What are the griefs you keep from Him?

When have you been completely open with God, showing Him completely how you feel? What are some things that keep you from doing that regularly?

PRACTICE THIS

Be open with God about the good, the bad, and the ugly in your life right now, asking Him to intercede.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

You are Never Alone

PRAY OVER THIS

“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.”

Romans 8:26

 

PONDER THIS

I’ve been to the hospital so many times. I’ve seen precious saints of God writhing in pain, groaning. They’re not there because of their personal sin or some clenched fist in the face of God. Some of God’s choicest saints have suffered. We’ve all known them, have we not? And yet they groan.

Christians may groan because of their suffering, but we aren’t alone—the Comforter groans because of our suffering too. Thank God there’s One in glory who groans. We serve a God with tears in His eyes. We serve a God who loves us, who cares, who said, “[Cast] all your care upon [Me], for [I care] for you” (1 Peter 5:7). There’s the groaning of creation, the groaning of the Christian, and the groaning of the Comforter, the Spirit. Why did I say Comforter? He’s called the paraclete. That means One who’s called alongside us. You don’t have to bear the pain alone.

When have you felt alone in your faith?

How does it make you feel to know God has given you a Comforter for every situation and trial in your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Look up some verses that remind you God is with you during difficult times. Write them down on sticky notes, placing them around your home as reminders that God is with you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers