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 groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:26-27 NASB)

I just recently spent a weekend at a missions conference in North Carolina and my heart was touched.  Along with this congregation’s hospitality and enthusiasm for missions, the guest speaker’s message deeply touched my heart.

A mature, soft spoken missionary presented Romans 8:26-27 in a way that I had never heard emphasized and yet his words rang with power and truth.

I have understood the scripture that tells us the Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  But what I had missed is that this happens every time we pray.  ”

The Spirit helps our weakness for we do not know how to pray as we should.”  We do not know how to pray according to the will of God—but the Holy Spirit does!

This intercession takes place when we pray, not when we’re not praying.  What I’m saying is that this message has made me want to pray more, knowing that God takes my weakness (not knowing how to pray) and infuses it with the power of the Holy Spirit (who intercedes for us according to the will of God).

And this produces results!

The missionary told us that the Holy Spirit sifts through our prayers, sifts through the unnecessary parts (you know, the flowery words, etc.) and presents them to God for us.  Although there are times when I certainly feel the Holy Spirit moving on my heart, I now realize that He is helping me every time I pray, doing His work of “interceding for the saints.”

So with that powerful truth in mind—let’s pray!