Clueless

When we Don’t Know How to Pray 

…we do not know what to pray for as we should….

Romans 8:26 CSV

I found it at a tag sale, painted it turquoise and added a cushion. Now it’s my favorite place for mulling things over. It’s my old wooden think-it-through rocker. The rhythmic thump-d-thump across the porch boards soothes my confusion when life comes too fast. It’s the place I go to sort things out. 

I know prayer is the starting place in confusing times, but sometimes I’m at a loss for how or what to pray. I feel handicapped in my inability to verbalize my needs. Words fall short of capturing the truth of my heart. 

Paul must have experienced something similar in his times of prayer. Maybe the Roman believers he wrote to experienced the same frustration. Regardless, Paul explained that God had resolved this common human problem. God provided the Holy Spirit to bridge that communication gap. Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit used unspoken groanings, wordless intercession, to communicate our needs to the Father. When we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit does!

We can also know that our heavenly Father already understands what is happening in our lives and in the deepest recesses of our hearts, even when we do not. We also can know that the Holy Spirit prays according to the will of God. Because of that, we can be at peace knowing His prayers are always answered before we even know what to ask! 

What is God’s will? When the disciples asked about prayer, Jesus gave them what we now call The Lord’s Prayer. In it, Jesus asked for God’s will to be done; daily provisions; forgiveness of sin; protection from temptation; and deliverance from evil.

Jesus’ prayer in John 17:11 provides additional insight. He prayed that his disciples would be protected by God’s name; be one with God and Himself; have His joy completed in them; be protected from the evil one; and be sanctified by the truth of God’s word.

When I stumble sharing my needs and requests, I can rest in this reassuring truth—the Holy Spirit will communicate God’s higher priorities in spite of my stumbling, all while I simply rock away in that rocker. Yet, I calm my thoughts knowing my prayers are heard and the Holy Spirit is seeking God’s perfect will.

Thank you, Father, that you not only understand my limitations but also made provisions for them. Resting within that brings me peace and joy!

Linda Les