Jan
20
2012
A Prayer for Days When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
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. 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. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:26-28
Dear Father, this is one of those days when I could create a long prayer list and methodically go through it, but my praying would be more ritual than reality, more form than faith, more duty than delight. It’s one of those days I’m glad the gospel is much more about your grasp of us than our grip on you. I’m grateful your delight in us is not contingent upon our rejoicing in you. This underscores why I’m so thankful for the prayer ministry of the Holy Spirit.
I have no problem or reluctance in acknowledging my weakness this morning. In fact, it’s freeing to know your Spirit doesn’t abandon us when we’re weak but helps us in our weakness—faithfully praying in us and for us with “wordless groans” (Rom. 8:26). Thank you for freedom to groan—to ache, long, wrestle and wait upon you. Father, thank you for the freedom the gospel brings our sometimes very weary and weak hearts. Thank you that the Spirit takes our feeble prayers, fixes them en route to heaven—praying what we would pray if we knew better, and had the faith and strength to do so.
No one knows our hearts better than you, Father; and you search our hearts to care for us, not chide us; to deliver us, not shame us; to parent us, not embarrass us. You’ve never surprised at what you find. There’s no search and discovery; there’s kindness and engagement.
You know the best and worse about us—our fears and our foolishness; our struggles with sin and our standing in Christ. You know us better than anyone could and you love us more than anyone would. We are in awe, even as we are at peace because of this exceeding good news.
At this very moment your Spirit is praying inside of us, perfectly tuned in to our needs and in total harmony with your will. We cannot measure the comfort this brings. You are working for our good, our best, in all things. You’re not a genie giving us our wishes, you’re our Father giving us yourself. You know the end of the story, because you are the author and finisher of our faith.
Hallelujah, many times over. We do love and trust you. We would love and trust you more. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.