Is groaning a part of your prayer language?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

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 through wordless groans.
(Romans 8:26 (NIV))

I have been groaning a lot lately! I am also extremely weary. I know what to pray for, but I find that I am incapable of stringing together the words to petition our Lord for the things that weigh heavily on my heart.

So, I find myself fully relying on the wordless groans and the Holy Spirit to intercede, to understand what is weighing heavily on my heart.

I am certain that everyone has experienced times in their lives exactly like this. If you have not, then your heart has been hardened. Thankfully, we have a God who fully understands what it means to be human. He understands our weakness. He understands our fears.

To put it simply, He understands us!

When we groan, He knows why. When we can’t find the words, He knows exactly what is on our hearts and on our minds. This may sound very strange, but I have grown to find comfort in my groans for these very reasons. I have grown to find comfort in my weakness, for I know the One who uses my weakness to His glory!

Is groaning a part of your prayer language?

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

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 through wordless groans.
(Romans 8:26 (NIV))

Is it just me or have you found yourself spiritually groaning as you observe all of the events transpiring in the world? They seem to be increasing in intensity and in frequency. If you don’t believe me, just think back to two years ago. No one could have imagined a worldwide pandemic. No one could have imagined the racial conflicts that have been increasing. No one could have imagined far too many things that we have seen and continue to see as they progressively unfold. When I actually contemplate everything that has transpired worldwide, I involuntarily sigh and groan. I am appalled at what I see. I am saddened by the state of insanity that has grasped this nation and this world. If it makes me sigh and groan, can you imagine how heavy God’s heart is as He watches people reject Him? Can you imagine how heavy God’s heart is as He watches people reject His offer of grace and salvation through His Son, Jesus?

What do you see when you look at the world?

Do you see a world that is as safe as the one that you grew up in? Do you see a world that is vastly different than just twenty or thirty years ago? Do you see a world that rejects God more and more each day?

How does that make you feel?

Is there something inside of you that sighs and groans at the thought of where we have come to? Is there something inside of you that sighs and groans adamantly at the thought of where our world is so rapidly progressing to?

It is a common human trait to wish for a better life for our children and grandchildren. With all of the spiritual groaning that I feel and that I am reading that others feel, I do not believe that this physical world will provide a better life as human nature desires.

All is not lost!

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
(Matthew 24:7-8 (NIV))

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
(Matthew 24:32-34 (NIV))

Many believe that we are the fig tree generation. The generation that saw Israel become a nation again and the generation that is seeing all of these things transpire right before our eyes. We must look to Jesus! We must look for Jesus! When God’s Spirit fills us with groans, I prefer to think of them as pleas for God’s Will to be done.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Whose strength helps you in your weakness?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

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 (NIV))

As I read this passage, the events of the day seem to overwhelm me. I am sure that each and every single person who has ever lived has had those types of days. They are the days that leave you drained and depleted. You feel like you have nothing left. You feel completely weak and vulnerable to anything and everything that the world may throw at you.

When that happens, human nature tells us to simply give up. It tells us that we have failed and that there is nothing that can lift us up out of the quagmire that we find ourselves in. It is the time when we long to be left alone.

Yet, at the very same moment that we feel that we should simply give up and give in, something stirs within us that brings us back to an amazing reality. That reality is that God loves us. He sent His Son to die for us. He sent His Spirit to live within us. He longs to hold us close and tell us of His great love for us. And, we answer. Our words are not enough. Our actions are not enough. Our desires are not enough to thank the Creator of all things. When this happens, the strongest statement of love is our groanings, for they are the groanings of a soul that longs for God’s righteousness and mercy. We cry out even when we don’t know what we long for. We simply know that we long for something to fill the void that we hold in our hearts. This is a void that is primal in nature. It aches and it longs to be filled. In fact, it is at this very moment that we realize that we are indeed in need of salvation.

Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.
(Job 42:6 (NIV))

It is at these times that God also teaches us a lesson in humility. Think about that statement. Would a proud person be caught anywhere near dust and ashes? It is when God also begins the process of lifting us out of our weakness by giving us His strength to rely on.

Whose strength helps you in your weakness?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you praying?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV))

Did you know that yesterday was the National Day of Prayer?

Does it even matter to you?

There is so much that is wrong with society now. It breaks my heart to see things that go against what God has commanded. I honestly believe that people take great pleasure in finding ways to flaunt their favorite sin in ways that will get attention. It is as if they are deliberately telling God that they don’t care what He thinks. It even looks like they are trying to outdo each other with who and what is the most vile.

Things have been set in motion since the beginning of time that only God knows when they will reach the culmination. It appears that they are rapidly escalating. It wasn’t that long ago that everything that is now being flaunted in our faces wasn’t even mentioned at all. Now, common sense and any ideas of righteousness have all but died. We are seeing things happen that I would never have believed would happen in my lifetime.

To be honest, it scares me!

I am not scared for myself, for I know where I have placed my faith and I know how the story ends. I am scared for those who don’t know that they are caught in a terrible cycle of sin and death. I am scared for those who will realize too late that they have made an eternal mistake.

I see things every single day that make me saddened, that make me groan in agony. I try to put my feelings into prayers, but all that I can do is groan. I know that our heavenly Father understands the groans, but from a human perspective, I long to put things into words so that I can understand. I am sure that I am not alone in this desire.

I wonder how many of the prayers that have been lifted up on the National Day of Prayer were the groanings of the members of the Body of Christ? Can we agree to groan in the spirit continually so that the Lord will hear us continually?

pray continually;
(1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV))

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:18 (NIV))

If my people will pray!

Are you praying?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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