“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)
Some time ago I arrived at work and realised I had neglected to pray for a friend who was heading to a job interview that day. Quickly, as best as I could in my tiny, not-very-private office, I prayed for her, then decided to text and let her know I had prayed and what I had asked. The words that I wrote in that text, though, weren’t my words. They flowed quickly and easily. They were better than what I’d actually prayed – specific, articulate, gracious – and I felt strengthened and blessed by them! I decided to pray again, this time with the words I’d just written, and then sent the text. My friend responded, excited, saying she felt truly covered.
And it occurs to me that perhaps those words and requests were the ones prayed by the Holy Spirit as He prayed within my first prayer. Despite my inadequate, muddied and flawed words, He was in them – His prayer within my prayer going straight to the heart of God.
I wonder how often we pray partial, inadequate, ‘nothing’ prayers that are infused with the divine prayers of the Holy Spirit. When we pray, we truly stand on holy ground, even in a fishbowl of an office, in the middle of a corridor, at the start of an ordinary day.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord. (Zech 4:6)
(By the way, my friend got the job).
Sue McPherson
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