Praying
“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.” Romans 8:26
Do you ever have a hard time praying? Do you struggle with what to say to God or how to say it? Does it ever feel like something you’re supposed to do instead of something you want to do? Do you ever feel like you’re just talking to yourself?
In prayer, we are having a conversation with God, similar to how we’d talk with a close friend. We can tell him how we feel, where we hurt, and what we’re thankful for. Its safe to share our deepest thoughts, hopes, and dreams.
Amazingly, the God who made this whole world enjoys listening to us talk to him!God tells us that our prayers are like perfume to him (Revelation 5:8). He finds sweetness and delight in what we say. He even urges us to come to him and to let him carry our burdens.
Even knowing these truths, it still might feel difficult to pray. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15) gives us some helpful ideas about how to pray. Sometimes its also helpful to think of three things when we pray: saying “thank you for _______,” saying “I’m sorry for _______,” and saying “please help me with _______.”
Best of all, God also tells us that he will help us to pray. How kind he is to help us do what he asks us to do! He doesn’t say “figure it out” or “you better get it right.” He simply tells us that he loves to hear his children talk to him and that he will give us what we need to do just that!
Wherever you are, be assured that God knows your heart and doesn’t leave you on your own. He has given his Spirit to help you.
As Romans says, “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” There is freedom in knowing that our God is for us. He loves to hear us pray to him because he loves for us to share in the joy of being in relationship with him. We are privileged to watch him do the things that we ask, changing our hearts and the world through the prayers of his beloved children.
For Further Reading: Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 11:28-30