“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.”

If the work of Jesus in our prayers is to intercede for our needs, what is left for the Holy Spirit to do?

Paul’s answer is

In other words, the Holy Spirit, like Jesus intercedes for us. However, the work of the Holy Spirit varies from the work of Jesus.  Jesus is seated at the right of God and has God’s ear on our behalf.  The Holy Spirit is seated in our heart and soul and has our ear on God’s behalf and for our benefit.

Each day you and I are faced with situations, problems, dilemmas that leave us scratching our heads.  With regards to Iraq, there are some people who think we should forget about the United Nations inspections and just wage all out war on Iraq and be done with them.  Other people think we should be patient that we should wait for the completion of the weapons inspection and then make a decision as to what our response will be.  There is a third group of people who oppose any kind of military aggression, saying that to attack Iraq is wrong.  Each group believes, with all their heart, that their position is what is best for the United States.

What should we pray for?

A baby is born two months pre-mature and has all sorts of medical problems. She requires all of the latest medical equipment to keep her alive.  Yet even with this equipment the chance that she will survive is questionable.  If she survives she will have a number of life long medical problems and possibly some disabilities?  What should we pray for?

Maybe you are currently facing situations, storms, in which you do not know how to pray?  What are you to do?

Trust the work of the work Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will intercede for you. Paul said,

Scripture tells us that when we do not know what we ought to pray for, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  How beautiful is the truth of these words?  It means that we are not left alone to our own resources to cope with our problems.  Even when you don’t know what to pray, when we don’t have the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for us.  Simple stated God helps you and me to pray.

Ron Susek, in his book God Will Answer offers the following story to illustrate how the Holy Spirit works in prayer.  I know I have shared this story before, but it is well worth hearing again.

Ron was flying to Calgary, Albert in a blinding snowstorm.  He had been invited by the captain to have a seat in the cockpit.  The snow was falling so hard that night that you couldn’t see more than an inch beyond the windshield. This condition is what is referred to as flying blind.  In order for the pilot to land the plane the pilot had to trust the plane’s instruments, which were locked on to a radar signal being transmitted from the middle of the runaway.  As long as the pilot kept that signal in the center of one dial and kept the longitudinal and latitudinal line of two other dials in the center of those dials he could land the plan safely on the airport runway.

As I read the story I was reminded of a time when I was on a survival hike.  We were given a compass and map coordinates, which would get us to a scout camp on the other side of the mountain.  There were no trails to follow.  We had to trust the compass and the coordinates we were given.  Sounds easy, but when you are in the middle of the woods and darkness is approaching, doubt begins to raise it's ugly head.  You start to wonder.  Are we going in the right direction?  Did we make a mistake?  Should we have been there by now?  Are we lost?

Does this sound familiar?  Are you in a bewildering situation?  Do you feel like you're lost, that your life is lacking direction or meaning?  Do you feel that it is not even worth the time to pray, because you don’t even know what to pray?

Like the pilot who trusted the instruments for a safe landing and the scout patrol that trusted their compass and arrived safely, you and I can trust the Holy Spirit to do His work.  The Bible says,

“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.”

We must trust God’s Word and character when we are in the midst of confusion and turmoil.  God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit is discussing how to demonstrate their love and encouragement to you in the midst of those storms.  What is required of you and me is to be still in our prayers, to hear the voice of God, to trust the Word of God.

I am not suggesting that you are going to hear a celestial voice booming in the heavens like the sound of thunder.  Don’t even think that you’ll hear his amplified voice speaking through a megaphone.  That is not how God works. God usually speaks in quietness. You hear Him, not audibly with your ears, but internally in your heart and soul because that is where God’s Holy Spirit dwells.

The Holy Spirit is God’s voice inside you.  He wants to intercede for you, He wants to speak to you, but you need to be quiet for a few moments so you can hear Him.

The Holy Spirit works when we step back from the noise and activity of our busy life and listen humbly and quietly for His voice and His guidance.  Even when we don’t how or what to pray, God hears our prayers because, 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.”