The Pointe

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. 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 8:26-27

God doesn’t want us to hold back when it comes to prayer. He wants our messy, emotional, turbulent prayers. He wants us to praise him when life is going well. And he wants us to thank him for his enduring love. But what about those times when we have no idea what to pray, when we can’t even come up with the words? Is it even possible to pray without words? According to the Bible, yes.

One of the greatest aspects of prayer is the fact that God already knows what is on our hearts and minds. And when we can’t think of the words to communicate our thoughts and feelings, the Holy Spirit will intercede for us. In other words, he will work in hearts and then communicate to God what we are processing, facing and feeling.

Don’t think that prayer needs to be scripted or rehearsed. You don’t have to develop the most beautiful sentences ever constructed or wait for the right words to come to mind. You don’t even need words. Simply open your heart to God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation. Because when you do, you’ll experience a freedom that goes beyond a script.

…pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
                       James 5:16

It is easy for me to pray for my wife. I have no problem remembering to pray for my children. I have no difficulty praying for my friends. I want each of them to experience all that God has in store for them; I want them to be protected; and I want them to grow in their faith. So I pray for them. And I trust God to hear my prayers and answer them in his own time. However, it’s not as easy to pray for people I don’t know.

Life is busy. And because of that, we all prioritize our days. We also prioritize our prayers. When we take time to pray, many of us focus on those we know and love. But how often do we remember to pray for those people we’ll never meet, those we’ll never see?

The writer in this text tells us that when we pray for one another, our prayers are powerful and effective. That power and effect can stretch far beyond our circle of family and friends.

When you pray; pray for other believers. Pray for the leaders in our government and teachers in our schools. Pray for people you don’t know. Pray for those people you’ll never meet. Because as you pray for them, just as you pray for those who are close to you, God will hear your prayers. And he will answer them in his time, because your prayers are powerful and effective.