A Broke Evangelist

November 23, 2024

Romans 8:26-27

God's Help Through The Spirit

“26 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 through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

As I’ve been slowly recovering physically, there have been moments when I’ve felt discouraged, lacking motivation, feeling lethargic, fatigued, and even experiencing times of depression that made everything seem overwhelming. During an appointment with a clinician, I casually mentioned my struggles. He asked me a few questions to gauge where I was mentally and suggested I consider talking to someone about my situation. I thought it was a good idea, and to make a long story short, I eventually connected with a mental health counselor. While much of what we discuss doesn’t always center around my struggles, he often offers valuable insights and ideas to help me get back on track when I’m feeling off my game.

One of the concepts he introduced was what he called a “call to action”—an activity or strategy to employ whenever a situation derails what I’m trying to accomplish. It’s like a red flag going up when I get off course, similar to the torpedo I mentioned yesterday that adjusts its path to reach its target. For example, I have a relative who is remarkably fit for her age and looks twenty years younger than she is. Her “call to action” is to monitor her calorie intake, avoid junk food and carbs, and make healthier choices whenever she gains five pounds. To this day, she still weighs what she did in high school!

Identifying red flags and establishing a call to action has helped me evaluate my activities and prevent bad habits from taking advantage of momentary weaknesses that could lead me down a path I’ll regret later. I’d encourage anyone to consider speaking with a therapist or counselor when life feels overwhelming. Their perspective can be incredibly helpful in navigating life’s red flags and creating a call to action to overcome challenges during moments of weakness.

Paul talks to us about our weaknesses in Romans 8:26-27…

Romans 8:26 - 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 through wordless groans.

Many of us have a voice assistant feature on our smart phones, for those of us who have graduated from flip phones. It’s supposed to automatically type what we say, and the hope is that even though we might stammer, pause, or not even know exactly how to phrase what you need, but somehow, it figures out what you’re asking and gets the job done. Unlike my phone, which rarely gets it right, sometimes it’ll make up stuff. When we’re feeling weak, unsure, or just don’t have the right words for prayer, we can be assured that God steps in to help! Through the Holy Spirit, He fills in the gaps and prays on our behalf. It’s like having that personal translator for our hearts—someone who understands exactly what we need, even when we don’t know how to say it. The Holy Spirit takes our worries, fears, and even those moments of silence, and turns them into prayers that God hears loud and clear. So, even when you don’t know what to pray, you can rest easy knowing God’s got it covered!

When I first started attending church as a new believer, my “New Believers Class” was held in a multipurpose room divided by retractable walls. These walls could be pulled out, run along a track, and transform the great room into three or four smaller spaces. As a result, we often shared a wall with a Sunday school class full of elderly folks.

At the end of our class, when it was time to pray for needs, the group next door would also begin their prayer time—and these older saints meant business! A cacophony of sounds would spill over from their room, leaving us new believers wondering what was going on. Among all the voices, there was one old man we could always hear, groaning repeatedly, “Ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhh,” like he was about to tumble down a flight of stairs!

Many of us from that class still laugh fondly when we think of him, chuckling at his unique prayer language. But we also remember him warmly, knowing he’s now in glory with Jesus.

God’s help might include the spiritual gift of praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15), but it isn’t limited to that. The idea goes deeper: it’s about communicating with God in ways that go beyond our ability to express. The profound groanings and emotions within us—things we can’t put into words—are brought before God through the Holy Spirit’s intercession. This aligns with the purpose of the gift of tongues, which is to enable us to communicate with God in a way that transcends the limitations of our human understanding or ability to articulate our hearts. However, the purpose of tongues is not to serve as a badge of spiritual status or proof of being "filled with the Spirit." Instead, it’s a tool given by God to help us connect with Him on a deeper, more intimate level when words fail.

Romans 8:27 - And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

God knows us better than we know ourselves, and He also knows the mind of the Holy Spirit. That’s why the Spirit’s help in prayer is always spot-on. When the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede for us, it’s not just random; it’s perfectly aligned with God’s will.

It’s like having a personal guide who knows both the map and your destination better than you do. You might only see a foggy road ahead, unsure of which direction to take, but the Holy Spirit clears the path, ensuring your prayers go exactly where they need to. He searches your heart—every fear, hope, and unspoken need—and translates that into prayers that are perfectly in tune with God’s plan for you.

It’s comforting to know that even when we don’t have the right words, or when we’re too overwhelmed to pray, the Holy Spirit has it covered. He steps in, takes our heart’s deepest cries, and shapes them into prayers that truly resonate with God’s will. It’s like having the ultimate prayer partner—one who knows both your heart and God’s purpose perfectly!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 23, 2024

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