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The Spirit Intercedes


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. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
What are your weaknesses? Once I start, my list grows. It gets scary. It gives one reason to suspect that I’m worthless. It’s also unrealistic. The focus is in the wrong place. The more important question is what the Spirit thinks are our weaknesses. When does He intercede?
          The weakness mentioned in this passage is a weakness of understanding and knowledge. We don’t know what God has in mind. We don’t know how to pray. Based on the number of Bible studies and sermons on the subject, we are anxious about this. Based on the number of times I’ve poured forth my concerns about missing the “exit,” I am definitely anxious about this. Time after time, God has guided me, but I still pray.
          Our weakness of mind isn’t our fault. If we knew everything God knows about God’s plans, we would be God. In that sense, He cannot blame us for not knowing and He shows His love and grace toward us in the Spirit’s intercession. There are times when we do know, or could know His will, when we might try Him by ignoring what He has said but claim that we don’t know. That’s a different issue.
         When Jesus taught His disciples, He repeatedly pointed out another of our weaknesses: our faith. I suspect there are others. We are not capable of providing our own salvation or sanctification. If we were already loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled, we would not need the fruit of the Spirit, yet He bears fruit in our lives. Notice something about these things? They don’t change our circumstances. They do change how we face those circumstances.

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