I have a prayer journal. Actually, I have a prayer book and a prayer journal. My prayer book is full of regular, ongoing prayers that I have accumulated over the years for my life, my family, our leaders, pastors, etc. Many of them are Psalms and other Bible verses that I use to frame my prayers. My prayer journal is where I record specific, situational prayers. (I long ago promised myself that if I told someone I would pray for them, I would follow through.)
Between these two books, there are a lot of prayers to pray. This can be a problem for someone with focus issues. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by all of the prayers and I feel like none of them are getting the proper attention.
Today as I held my prayer journal in my hands and began to offer up prayers for the people and situations I saw before me, I was reminded of a critical truth about prayer. It’s not all on me! When Jesus opened the lines of communication between my Heavenly Father and me, He also empowered me with the Holy Spirit to help me along.
We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. – Romans 8:26-27 (The Amplified Translation)
The Holy Spirit prays on my behalf in accordance with God’s will!
When I read that passage of Scripture, it dawned on me that it comes right before a very well known and oft-quoted verse:
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. – Romans 8:28 NLT
The reason we can know that everything works together for our good is not because we’re so good at praying, but because the Holy Spirit is! We would do well to come before God in prayer with an open heart, consumed by His Spirit, and seeking His will. After all, the purpose of prayer is not to get God in on my plan, but to get me in on His!
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help me to be sensitive to the prayers of the Holy Spirit so that my prayers will be in alignment with Your good and perfect will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of Your name be the center on which our lives turn. Manifest Your Kingdom realm, and cause Your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven. – Matthew 6:9-10 (The Passion Translation)
