Text: Romans 8:26-27

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.   27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  

Wednesday, 7^th August 2024

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS US THROUGH PRAYER

Text: Romans 8:26-27

Memory verse: Psalms 7: 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  

Recently, I received a phone call from a family friend and a spiritual son who is a gifted prayer warrior.  he always seems to know the right kind of questions to ask us in order to get what might be on our minds or weighing us down. During the call, he said to me, “I know you are busy now, and I don’t want to use up a lot of your time, but I wonder if I could spend a few minutes praying for you and your family now.”  Then we paused to pray together.  What a blessing to me that afternoon.

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a season when you are not sure of how and what to pray?  Possibly a season of trial when you are not even sure of how to articulate what is in your mind. It is a great relief to know that the Holy Spirit helps us in the midst of these seasons by interceding on our behalf and making sense of our chaotic or messy prayers? The Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in our prayers, He aligns our requests with the will of God and transforms our minds to begin thinking and praying in accordance with God’s plan and character.

As common experience shows that the workings of the mind, particularly the passions of joy, grief, and fear, have a very remarkable effect on the reins or kidneys. Proverbs 23:16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Psalms 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. From their retired situation in the body, and being hidden in fat, they are often used to denote the most secret workings and affections of the soul.  And to "see or examine the reins," is to see or examine those most secret thoughts or desires of the soul.

CGDS HYMN 6; SS&S 201:

SPIRIT DIVINE, ATTEND OUR   PRAYER

1. Spirit divine, attend our prayers,

and make this house thy home;

descend with all thy gracious powers,

come, great Spirit, come!

2. Come as the light; to us reveal

our emptiness and woe,

and lead us in those paths of life

whereon the righteous go.

3. Come as the fire and purge our hearts

like sacrificial flame;

let our whole soul an offering be

to our Redeemer's Name.

4. Come as the dove, and spread thy wings,

the wings of peaceful love;

and let thy Church on earth become

blest as the Church above.

5. Come as the dew and sweetly bless

this consecrated hour;

may barrenness rejoice to own

thy fertilizing power.

6. Spirit divine, attend our prayers,

make a lost world thy home;

descend with all thy gracious powers;

come, great Spirit, come!

 Prayers

1.  Lord Jesus, as I begin to pray, comfort me on every side by Your holy Spirit.

2.  LORD God Almighty, according to Psalms 71;21 increase my greatness and comfort me on every side by Your Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.