When You Don't Know What to Pray
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."
- John 14:16
Today's devotion is adapted from a recent post on Pastor Greg's blog. To read his latest blog entry, click here.
There are times when we don't really know what or how to pray.
Maybe you are overwhelmed by a burden. You find yourself discouraged, depressed, and overwhelmed. It is at that point that the Holy Spirit will help you.
Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a "comforter." In John 14:16, He said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (KJV).
The Comforter
We have lost the meaning of the word "comforter." It comes from the Greek word
Paracletos, which means "called alongside to help," a helper, aide, or assistant.
Some versions translate
Paracletos as the word "advocate," which is applied to Jesus in 1 John 2:1: "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous."
The purpose of an advocate is to plead the cause of another, an intercessor. This is part of the work that the Holy Spirit has come to do in your life.
Sometimes a sigh will do
Why? Because we don't always have to put words to our prayers.
Here's the good news-sometimes just a sigh or groan will do. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.
Trust me, I have done this many times, especially recently. I don't know what to say, or how to say it. I just know that I am in pain, so I sigh, I groan, and sometimes I cry.
That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. As Romans 8:26-27 tells us, "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. 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."
(Today's Daily Devotion is dated 05.13.09 which was not posted.)
[ Pastor Greg Laurie ]
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Turn and Face the Truth
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.
- Psalm 51:1-6
In Psalm 51, King David was crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness because the Lord had been dealing with him about his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Believe it or not, David's sin had occurred one full year prior to the writing of this psalm, but he had never really faced it and acknowledged it. He was not facing truth; and as long as he refused to face truth, he could not truly repent. And as long as he could not truly repent, God could not forgive him. Verse 6 of this passage is a powerful scripture. It says that God desires truth "in the inner being." That means that if we want to receive God's blessings, we must be honest with Him about ourselves and our sins.
[ Joyce Meyer Ministries ]
Where Strength and Joy Are Found
Today's Verse:
Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary" ( I Chronicles 16:27, AMP ).
Today's Word:
Do you need more strength and joy in your life? The Bible tells us that in God's presence there is fullness of joy-the most abundant and complete! And when you have His joy, you have His supernatural strength. There's nothing that can overtake you when you are filled with the strength and joy of the Lord.
Notice this verse says that strength and joy are found in His sanctuary. One translation says they are found "where He is." And do you know "where He is"? His Spirit is alive in every believer; but in His Word, He promises that He inhabits or manifests in the praises of His people. That means when you begin to praise and worship God, either corporately in a church setting or privately in your personal time, God is there. You are in His sanctuary. Anytime you feel depleted or overwhelmed, just begin to sing a song of praise to Him. Declare His goodness and faithfulness. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. He'll fill you with His joy and strength so that you can live as an overcomer all the days of your life!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I bless You today. I thank You for Your goodness in my life. Thank You for filling me with Your strength and joy, and I praise and worship You today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Today's Word is dated 05.06.09 which was not posted.)
[ Joel Osteen Ministries ]
