Romans 8:26-27 – “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  NKJV

When we consider the previous verses, it is interesting that the apostle Paul would relate prayer, earnest intercessory prayer with labor pains.  The Holy Spirit works in us in prayer and especially the intense earnest prayer.  Failing to recognize this ministry and availability through the Spirit of God is to rely on our own understanding and frequently results in disappointment and despair.

The Bible mentions, more than once, the weakness of the flesh.  It also points our understanding to the fact that sometimes we simply do not know the mind of God or how to pray about a matter before us.  This is when the Holy Spirit steps in and personally, begins to pray through us with what can only be described as “unintelligible and unutterable groaning”.  He knows the mind of the Father and makes intercession according to the will of God therefore He is not just a helper but our prayer warrior weapon.

The comparison of labor pangs in the previous verses about the entirety of creation applies to the prayer Paul is referring to.  This is warfare prayer and in spiritual warfare more often than not we are battling forces we cannot see and possibly do not even recognize.  The Holy Spirit both sees and recognizes them.  He brings us into the very throne room of heaven and into the presence of the Father to bring our petitions before the Most High.

I love how the next verse is connected to creation groaning and the Holy Spirit groaning through us in prayer to a remind that is pertinent and powerful:   “And we know that all things WORK TOGETHER for good to those who love God, to show who are the called according to His purpose.”  He later infuses comfort and courage saying, “What shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”  I like to say, “If God is for us what difference does it make who is against us?”

Most of us have had times when prayer was called for.  We have had times when we felt the burden to pray but did not know how or what to pray.  The heaviness of the need was present but the knowledge of what or how to pray was absent.  In those times, I have experienced the Holy Spirit taking over as I submitted to His guidance and began to guide my words, thoughts, and prayers.  I have had those times when I just wept or groaned in prayer.  The image of giving birth is applicable and I felt the intense pain within my heart.  I have known that experience to last hours and then finally a release and I knew that I knew that I knew the answer was coming.  I might not know how or when, but I knew that I knew it was done.

I would suggest that it is the absence of times like that that has weakened the resolve of many to do combat in prayer and refuse to let go of the horns of the altar until the answer came.  I believe we are entering a time when the Body of Christ will once again have to depend on God for our very sustenance and health.  We are, I believe, being driven to the place of faith again, and while the painfulness of that process is not appealing the end is.  The Church is going to, once again rise as an Army, a Body, A Family, and present to the world that which Jesus declared it would be!

God bless you as you go through this day!