SOAP: He knows what we need, even we don’t know what to say

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27

²⁶And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷And 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.

Observation: Even when we do not know just what to say in our prayers, the Holy Spirit intercedes as only the Holy Spirit can. And God hears those prayers.

Application: Sometimes I can get caught up in making my prayers sound ‘holy’ when I am asked to pray out loud. And this can be really intimidating for me.

I need to remember that I am not praying to the people around me. My communication is with the Lord.

It is very encouraging for me to learn that when I am speechless or tongue-tied in any type of prayer, oral or not, that the Holy Spirit will come to me and communicate for me. He will call on our Father to guide me, heal me… whatever it is I need that is in accordance with His will.

Just trusting and believing does amazing things for me. It even gets the ‘master prayer’ on my side, pleading for me… Even when I have no idea what to say.

That is powerful stuff.

Prayer: Lord, thanks! Thank you for wanting to hear from me and for sending the Spirit to pray for me even when I do not know what to say or think. You know my heart. You know my needs. I do not even need to utter one word. Thank you for knowing me so well and loving me.

Please help this passage to touch someone else as well, today. I want others to have the reassurance that you will be there when they need you… which is always.

Please also guide me and remind me of this when I am asked to pray out loud. Help me to focus on you alone and not those around me. You know what my heart needs and you know what every situation needs. Remind me to lean on the Holy Spirit when I am tongue tied and intimidated.

Thank you, Lord!