Groaning a bit?

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. (Romans 8:26-27)

Do you always know how to pray for whatever the need is that is set before you? There are times a friend will ask me to pray with them, but they aren't specific about their need. At other times, I know I 'need' something to change, be different inside me, or transpire, but I have no clear idea what that should be. When those times of prayer become 'difficult' because we 'don't know', it is time to trust the Spirit of God within us to lift our need to God's ears. Scripture says God even knows the meaning of our groans and sighs, so is it too hard to believe he would give us assistance in our prayers?

Prayer is probably one of my 'weaker' areas in this Christian walk. Yes, I pray, but am I always confident in my prayers? Not always, but I know God hears them, knows what is needed, and goes to work even before I ask. I know the Spirit of God within me is 'in tune with' the will of God and helps with expressing the need. It is true - there are times when words are just not sufficient to express the urgency, depth of a need, or the challenge to our faith that particular prayer is right now. God's plan was always to give us the Spirit to help us when we are not able to find 'sufficient words' to express it.

Have you ever 'put off' praying because you just didn't know what to pray for? You are not alone on that one, but we might want to reference this passage from time to time whenever that happens. I have actually said to God that his Word says I would have help to pray for the need before me. I have quoted back this scripture as my prayer - trusting that God 'gets' what I am saying and knows I am having trouble putting it into specific words. Why? He knows all hearts - yours and mine! He 'gets it' because he knows the depth of our heart's need and wants nothing more than to help with it. When we don't know what to pray, maybe we should remind God that we are trusting him to know our heart and hears its groanings. Just sayin!