Rev. M. Michelle Day

Romans 8:26-27 (NRSV)

Pray for me, Lord

26 Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

It was the early hours after midnight during our recent prayer vigil. As we stood waiting for all who needed individual prayer to come, a gentleman approached who had been sitting with head bowed for at least two hours. He smiled and said that he felt so broken he did not know what to pray. Something in his life had left him without the words to express his pain to himself, to me or even to God. 

As we stood together in a moment of silence, this Scripture from Romans came to mind. While sharing the Scripture with him, praying with him and for him, I was struck – yet again – at what a mighty, awesome God we serve.

God loves us so much, and understands our frailties, so SO much, that when we are broken by life and too tired and confused to find words to pray for ourselves, his Spirit searches our hearts and intercedes for us. We are prayed for by the same One who made heaven and earth.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for loving me so intimately that you pay attention to my every pain that has no word. Thank you for interceding for me according to your matchless will.  

Thought for the day

When we are rendered speechless by pain, God still hears.