When it comes to praying to God and we find ourselves at a loss for words, it’s okay. In times like this, we can pray by the Spirit. Listen to what the Bible tells us in Romans 8:26-27:
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 ESV)
I love that the Bible tells us that we don’t always know what to pray, and prayer isn’t about saying all the right things. Much of prayer is about being in God’s presence. God understands that sometimes we won’t have the words, and that’s why He has gifted us with the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf. I’ve personally experienced times where I’ve been so hurt or so overwhelmed that when it was time for me to sit down and pray, only tears came out.
But you know what? God understands that too. Our prayers may not always be nice words, neatly strung together to form proper sentences and paragraphs. Sometimes our prayers will be our cries and moans to God. It may be us praying in our prayer language, and we let the Spirit lead. As God’s beloved filled with His Holy Spirit, He knows the deepest longings of our hearts that our mouths sometimes can’t formulate the words to say. Today, I encourage you to let God’s spirit speak through you when you don’t have the words to pray.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, when I don’t have the words to pray, thank you for letting me come to You just as I am with tears in my eyes and a tired spirit. Through Your Holy Spirit, thank you for renewing my mind and hearing my cries. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.