The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray

There is a marvelous way to pray that is mentioned in the Word. It’s called praying “in the Spirit.” Really, it’s the only way to pray. Jude 20 contains the command:

“building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”.

To the Christians at Ephesus, Paul said they should be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Now I enjoy praying in a heavenly language, and do so often, but praying “in the Spirit” is much more than this.

It also means to pray in the realm of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the many reasons why living in fellowship with the Holy Spirit is so important – it allows us to experience His power and His presence when we pray.

But not only does He make His power available to us when we pray, He also prays for us! Listen to the marvelous truth of Romans 8:26:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.

Let’s break this down phrase by phrase. The Spirit also helps: literally, “keeps on helping” – He doesn’t help us just now and then. He continuously helps us. The things that capture our attention and drive us to our knees are heavy – too heavy to bear alone, and often too complex to express with words alone.

Notice that the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought. Actually, that word should be translated weakness.

“He helps our entire weakness, but especially as it manifests itself in relation to our prayer life and particularly in relation to knowing what to pray for at the present moment. While we wait for our full redemption (see Romans 8:18-25) we need guidance in the particulars of prayer.”

The Holy Spirit helps us through making intercession for us. Notice actually that the text says, “the Spirit Himself.” No intermediaries, no agents – the Third Person of the Trinity, very God Himself, intervening in our behalf.

The word “intercession” is also a picturesque word depicting “rescue by one who ‘happens upon’ one who is in trouble” and pleads or intercedes on their behalf.

Don’t let your circumstances, no matter how distressing, keep you from prayer. The Holy Spirit is waiting to plead your case before the Father.

The Holy Spirit intercedes with groaning which cannot be uttered. And what is the result? Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mid of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit takes our tangled thoughts and emotions, what we’re praying for and what we should pray for, and with deep emotion brings the right sentiments to the Throne.

Hallelujah for the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit!