Romans 8:26 - Wordless Prayer

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26 (New American Standard Bible, 1995) 

The context of this verse is that all of creation "groans and suffers the pains of childbirth," aching for when God's children will inherit a new heaven and a new earth. It's a great comfort to know that when I feel helpless to even put my longings into words, the Holy Spirit Himself cannot find words adequate for expressing that for which the heart longs to be fulfilled.

However, such "wordless prayers" aren't limited to times of deep distress. There are times when I've made a dumb mistake and I'm tempted to fret and fume over it. That is, until I hear God chuckling at the whole scenario. I find myself smiling in response to His watchcare over me.

Other things turn my heart in awe of the Creator: a billowing pavilion of clouds overhead, the orange flash of a tanager outside my window, a green seedling pushing aside a mantle of dirt, the cooing of a newborn baby. Any number of things can prompt heartfelt, wordless worship.

That's not to say we shouldn't attempt to bring our petitions and praise to God with words, but as I've quoted before from an old hymn:

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
uttered or unexpressed;
the motion of a hidden fire
that trembles in the breast. - James Montgomery

Lord, Hear our prayer ...even when words don't do it justice. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See April 2, 2020 - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Thinking in the Spirit