Romans 8: How God Loves UsSample

When We Don’t Know What to Pray

Reflect / Discuss

• Are there situations or events in our world that you don’t know how to pray for?
• Have you ever started to pray for someone but could not find the words?

Consider

Have you ever started to pray, but you were not sure what to say? Or perhaps you’ve been praying for a friend or situation that seems hopeless and you don’t even know what to ask for. Paul reminds us in these verses that the Holy Spirit Himself helps us when we pray. Verse 26 says that the Spirit intercedes for us. The word intercede means to intervene on someone’s behalf. The Holy Spirit, who knows God’s perfect will and knows the answer to every question - even the ones we don’t know to ask - intervenes on our behalf. He knows the desires of our hearts and helps align those desires with the will and plans of God as we pray. 

We can also pray with confidence because we know that God is working on our behalf. In verse 28, Paul reminds us that God works in all things for our good. God has a purpose for each of us that ultimately ends in redemption and the hope of eternity with God. No matter what we are facing, we can be confident that God is working to produce these things in our lives. It is not a shallow promise that guarantees only happiness and good things, but rather a powerful truth in all circumstances. No matter what we face, God’s plans for us are plans of hope. 

Act

• Read about how Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. Begin to pray these things over each area of your life. 
• Consider starting a prayer journal for daily prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in praying for God’s will in each area of your life.