Holy Spirit Directs Our Prayers

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 with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

           Romans 8:26-27

Have you ever had experiences where you sit down to pray and all that comes out is just groans and tears? Usually that happens when you are overwhelmed by the situation you are currently in and you do not know what to do next. You have tried everything and now you have reached your limits and all you know is to just pour out your heart. Those are times when you feel lonely and tired. You are physically exhausted and spiritually troubled. During such times, even a great prayer warrior feels without direction in prayer.

But the most assuring thing for a child of God is that, we have a helper in prayer. In those moments, when we do not know what we ought to pray,  the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and gives us a direction in prayer. Sometimes, this weakness in prayer happens when you do not know the will of God. All you know is today, and everything about tomorrow is uncertain to you. It is usually a difficult situation as we are not sure what God exactly is going to do for us. But when you submit the matter to God and pray with the help of the Holy Spirit, He will help you pray according to the will of God.

The other day, I had a similar experience in life. When I sat down in prayer, I did not know in what direction to pray. I had a desire in my heart and was not sure whether that was the will of God for me. I knew for sure that I do not want ot go against God’s desire, even if it upsets me at present. So when I sat down to pray, all that came out was just repeated words. And when I asked the Holy Spirit to help me in prayer, slowly I noticed a strength in the prayer..as though I knew the direction in prayer. Within my heart, I knew that my prayers reached heaven and it started working on my behalf. And thats a powerful prayer with the help of Holy Spirit. One thing that I have noticed in such kind of prayer is that, whatever that happens after such prayer, whether good or bad, what you have hoped for or not, you will feel relaxed and at peace because you are so confident that you have prayed according to the will of God and the answer from God is His desire for you. 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.(Romans 8:28).

Weakness in prayer can also happen when you are not right with God. When we live in this earthly bodies, we are prone to sin and unrighteousness. And when we take the effort to sit in prayer, the Holy Spirit intercede on behalf of us and helps us to look into the grace of that heavenly throne. As God is Holy, we ought to be holy. And the Holy Spirit helps us to understand our shortcomings and direct us to the state of repentance so that Jesus can wash away our sins and make us holy once again. For in John 16:8, we read that “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”.

Another thing that Holy Spirit does in our weakness is that He will make us remember ht word of God and the promises God has given us. I have experienced that many times. I might have forgotten a promise that God has given me years back…but when I pray something related to that matter, Holy Spirit will remind me the promises God has given me and also show me verses from the bible to uplift my troubled soul.

Hannah prayed with a distressed spirit. She was just pouring out her heart to God. When Eli noticed her, he thought that she was drunk as her lips were moving, while her voice was not heard out. I believe that the Holy spirit interceded for her with groans that words cannot express and He went to heaven with her petition and came back with the desire of her heart…a son named Samuel.

So next time when you are on your knees with tears rolling down your cheeks, not knowing the will of God, ask Holy Spirit to guide you in prayer. Request Him to assist you in prayer in your weakness, in your sin and righteousness. Ask Him to remind you the promises from the word of God so that you can be confident on the will of God. Remember, such prayers assisted with the help of Holy Spirit, reaches heaven and comes back to you with an answer from heaven…just like Hannah who received what she requested for.

God Bless,

Rani John