by David Brenneman
"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;" Romans 8:26
Much of my days of late, this passage is on my mind. Living for Jesus often is going to have seasons of valleys to go through. Having times when we just don't know how to pray. We just know to pray.
"Life gets tough, and times get hard
It's hard to find the truth in all the lies
If you're tired of wondering whyYour heart isn't healingAnd nothing feels like home'Cause you're lost and alone just screaming at the sky
When you don't know what to sayJust say JesusThere is power in the nameThe Name of JesusIf the words wont come'Cause you're too afraid to prayJust say Jesus
Whisper it now, or shout it outHowever it comes out, He hears your cryOut of nowhere He will come-you got to believe itHe will rescue youJust call out to the Way, The Truth, The Life
When you don't know what to sayJust say JesusThere is power in the nameThe Name of JesusIf the words won't come'Cause you're too afraid to prayThere is just One nameStrong enough to saveThere is just One nameThere is just One name
Jesus
When you don't know what to sayJust say JesusThere's still power in the nameThe Name of JesusIf the words wont come'Cause you're to afraid to prayIf the words wont comeAnd you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus"
-"Just Say Jesus" by 7th Time Down.
Quite a few times my prayer is a plea. I can only just say His Name and my emotions at the time are more than I have words for...and you know what? It's ok.
Jesus knows we don't have all the answers...He does.
Jesus knows our inadequacies...He has none.
Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We aren't.
It's very important to Jesus that we keep sin out of our way to keep the communication lines between us and God open.
Sin is disguised by every way imaginable these days. It sometimes starts as thoughts of ours that begin with what we think we deserve because of this or that happening in our lives. We did this, so we should reward ourselves. We did that and we deserve it because obviously God provided it. God wouldn't want us to not enjoy whatever is in front of us!
We are easily, thanks to our sin nature, experts at justification of self care.
We never ever see the oncoming slippery slope until it's too late. Then crying out to Jesus might come if we recognize His hand trying to save us.
There's nothing that involves a life in Christ that comes from God that involves lying, stealing or destroying life.
Knowing your enemy is critical to your success in Christ Jesus. Paul knew his. Jesus knew the hearts of mankind and would not trust Himself to any.
Our pains in this world are not uncommon to mankind.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 1 Peter 4:12-19.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."
Your life isn't about you getting what you want out of it after you come to Christ for salvation. It's about you growing in Christ and your sanctification.
You're going to struggle with understanding the things of God because our natural man or woman doesn't understand it. It's foreign to us. We need a teacher, and have one in the Holy Spirit.
Class is always in session. From morning to morning when we're awake we are in class. We need to navigate truth from the errors of sin.
And we may not understand what's happening or how to deal with it. This is where prayer comes in. This is where bearing one another’s burdens comes in.
And as the post began...it's where the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Many Prophets of old were struggling with what they were going through in life. They certainly weren't living it up. Paul wrote of times he and others despairing of their lives. What we potentially can go through is certainly not uncommon to man.
Don't discount the Spirit talking to you. Sometimes He might. He might tell you that you're praying the wrong kind of prayer. He did that with me nearly a month ago. He told me specifically that my prayer was in error. That God will not curse those who He has blessed and will not bless those who have been cursed. Repentance must come first.
My work life has been turned on its ear. So I pray often concerning that. I sometimes am just so tired and so distraught that my prayer is only "Jesus help!".
So yes, it's entirely possible as well as normal to not know how to pray. Jesus searches the hearts and knows yours.
He knows your heartache and your pain as well as your confusion.
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18.
It's ok not to understand. We just need to obey and trust Him for the results, as Dr. Charles Stanley used to say.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. Lockman Foundation.
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