SPIRIT PRAYERS

Friday, June 1
Romans 8:26-27  (The Message)
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside us helping us along.  If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter.  He does our prayer in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.  He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition; and keeps us present before God."
     "I'm too upset to pray!"  "I don't even know what to pray for!"  Sometimes we are so distraught and empty, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, that the words just don't come.  The hole is too big.  Our despair too deep.  We don't even know where to start.
     On our knees.  In prayer.  The Spirit, once again, is our Advocate and Friend.  The Spirit can handle the prayer from there.  The Spirit can put words to our inexpressible thoughts.  God knows our despair.  God is listening.
     This made me think of the rote Catholic prayers.  The rosary is a way to pray without having to find the words.  Sometimes I believe we Protestants get too hung up on praying a 'well-delivered' or 'well-written' prayer, a prayer that sounds good in public but might have lost its personal touch.  God wants prayers from the heart and soul.  If we can't come up with the words, let the Spirit do so.  Even a favorite hymn can be a prayer.
     "God of words I do not yet know how to speak, send your Spirit to intercede on my behalf, that my words might be your words." (d365.org)  Keep present before God.  Keep in touch with God.  Even wordless prayers will work.