God’s Grace and the Spirit’s Intercession
Read: Romans 8:26-30
In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
The other day I was contemplating the depths of God’s grace and asking myself these questions. Do I appreciate God’s grace? Do I understand God’s grace? Do I depend on God’s grace? As I thought about it, I came to this simple conclusion: not enough. Do I appreciate it? Not enough. Do I understand it? Not enough. Do I depend on it? Not enough.
As a believer thirty-one years into my unity with Christ, I would say that I have only scratched the surface of what God’s grace truly means. Author Michael Reeves says that I should understand grace as God’s giving of all He is to me and the impact it has on who I am–I am an adopted daughter called by Him, loved by Him, and known by Him because of His love, not my works or efforts.
When I think about prayer, I think it is the epitome of where we interact with and experience God’s grace. Not because we pray eloquently, but because of the fact that most often we don’t! There are so many times in my life that I come before the Father, and I don’t know how to pray. I don’t have the “right” words coming out of my mouth, if I am even making words at all. My mind is spinning; my heart is hurting; my thoughts are scattered, and the last thing I can do is make a beautifully eloquent speech to my Heavenly Father. So I sit there like a fish gasping to be back in the water, but nothing comes out. But GOD! He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead, teach, guide, comfort, and intercede for us. What grace!!
When we can’t express what we need to say, it is okay because we have the Spirit interceding for us. It is God’s grace that we don’t have to perfect ourselves before we come. We don’t have to get our words right to be listened to. We don’t have to say the right things to be granted access. God’s grace says, “ Come. I will listen. The Spirit will make known to me what your mouth is unable to speak.” God knows our hearts, and He knows the Spirit who dwells within us. His grace has given us a way to communicate with Him.
I am amazed that the writers of the Psalms were able to express their thoughts in such heart-stirring ways because I often feel like the fish out of water not knowing what to do. There are many within our congregation that have similar gifts to those of the Psalmist, and if you are one of them, use that gift for the blessing of your brothers and sisters.
I fear many of us don’t come to Him if we feel we don’t know what to say. We think that maybe once we are able to pull our thoughts together, we can lay out our problems or petitions before Him. But we must admit we are doing that for us, not Him. We are trying to control our interactions with the Father. We want to dictate what is said and how the prayers are made. By doing that, we miss the freedom that grace provides. Freedom to say things incorrectly and know He still hears. Freedom to know that we can sit and be numb or cry with no words coming forth. In those times, the Spirit makes groanings with us or for us. God gives us grace; Jesus gives us salvation; and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. What a beautiful picture of the Holy Trinity working on our behalf. What grace.
I did this little exercise with some ladies the other day and would like to close with it here. Each time the word grace was used in Hebrews 4:16, we replaced it with a definition of grace.
- Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of God’s unmerited favor, love, and goodness, expressed through salvation, forgiveness, and strength, that we may receive mercy and find there God’s unmerited favor, love, and goodness, expressed through salvation, forgiveness, and strength to help in time of need.
Remember, when you come to the throne but have no words, you do not come hopeless; you come linked with the Spirit. He is by your side. If you can’t be confident in your ability to form words, you can be confident in the Spirit’s work and God’s grace. What grace!
