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. -Romans 8:26
God was telling me today to look at this verse. Last night I was just flipping through my social media and came across an old article that someone had linked to that gave a list of 10 things about prayer. I can’t remember anything about the list other than, number 7 was this verse from Romans 8. For some reason, it struck me as something I needed to stop and listen to.
I’ve wanted this year to be come my year of prayer. A year I learn more about it and become more diligent in it. One of my main prayers over the last few years has really been to see clearly what God’s will is for my life. What is his plan? I’m eager to find out and get moving. If you’ve been reading my blog for a couple years, you can see a large portion of my posts are seeking the answer to that prayer.
This morning, as is normal, I open my favorite Bible app on my phone and see the verse of the day…yes you’ve guessed it, Romans 8:26 is staring me right back in the face. To me that is about as clear of an indicator of God telling me something that I’ve ever received. But what is God trying to tell me with that verse. Well that required me to do a little study and further reading this morning.
Let’s look at the next verse;
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 8:27
The Spirit knows what God’s will is for us. The Spirit knows where we are going. Even though we may be unsure of where we are going or what God’s will is for us, the Spirit is not. The Spirit will intercede on our behalf to ensure that we reach our destination. We can be assured of God’s protective guidance in spite of being unaware of where we are going or how we are getting there.
And that all leads to verse 28;
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
God is working for our good my friends. He has called us to his purpose, he has a plan for us…and it is good!
So I feel God threw this verse at me to let me know that I can stop focusing so much on the destination, God already knows where that is and the Spirit will ensure that I arrive. But along the way God has tasks for me, people to interact with, to tell the truth to, to pray for. Those opportunities laid before me each and every day, those things that cross my path are where my focus needs to be. The destination is important and I shouldn’t forget it, but the Spirit has got that covered.
We’ve been liberated from sin and death through Jesus, so we can take comfort in knowing the that Spirit will guide us, without fail, to the promised land that God has given to us. Just like the Israel of old, who were led by the pillar of cloud and fire through the wilderness, we too are being led by the Spirit into the promised land. We often don’t know how we are getting there or which direction to go tomorrow, but we don’t need to worry about that.
My prayer today is one of thanks. I’m thankful that God gave me the eyes to see this verse that he so clearly wanted to give to me today. It has truly opened up my eyes on my prayer life and given me a whole new freedom as I traverse through life. Thank you God for making this verse come alive in me today!
Exceptional Christian 