Prayer is a conversation with God. Ever been at a loss for words of what to say or how to pray? Has it been a sigh or a moan? Do you realize there is someone who understands and translate them up into the heavenly for you? Let’s be the dads who don’t lose faith when confronted with not knowing what to say or how to pray about something and instead lean into God and trusting Him!
Divine Intercession in Prayer (Romans 8:26-27):
In those moments when words fail us, and our hearts are heavy with concerns, the Holy Spirit becomes our divine intercessor, translating the unspoken groans and sighs of our souls into prayers that ascend to the heavenly realms. Romans 8:26-27 affirms this truth, stating, “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Embracing Vulnerability and Trust:
As fathers navigating the challenges of life, we may find ourselves grappling with uncertainties and dilemmas, unsure of how to articulate our concerns before the Almighty. It is in these very moments that we can lean into the Holy Spirit, trusting in His ability to intercede on our behalf. Our role is not to have all the answers, but rather to surrender our inadequacies to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to bridge the gap between our limited understanding and God’s perfect will.
Key Takeaways for Dads:
- Embrace Vulnerability: Acknowledge your weaknesses and embrace vulnerability before God, recognizing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you in those very moments.
- Trust in Divine Translation: Understand that the Holy Spirit interprets the silent cries of your heart, presenting them to God in alignment with His perfect will.
- Release the Burden: Release the burden of having to articulate every detail perfectly in prayer. Instead, trust that the Holy Spirit comprehends your deepest concerns.
Practical Applications for Spiritual Growth:
- Prayerful Surrender: Practice surrendering your concerns to God in prayer, relying on the Holy Spirit to articulate your needs before the Heavenly Father.
- Consistent Communication: Cultivate a consistent relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, allowing Him to guide your thoughts and intercede on your behalf.
- Encourage Other Dads: Share the liberating truth of the Holy Spirit’s intercession with fellow dads, encouraging them to embrace vulnerability in their prayers and trust in God’s perfect understanding.
Becoming Dads of Trust and Faith:
In moments of uncertainty, let us be the dads who lean into the divine assistance of the Holy Spirit. Confident that our prayers are heard and translated in alignment with God’s sovereign will, we become fathers who trust and have faith even when confronted with the challenge of not knowing what to say or how to pray.
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to get to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this one for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit: DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: HEAVENLY TRANSLATOR
Verse: Romans 8:26 NIV
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.
Therefore, let’s be the dads who remember and cling to the reality that in our weakness, God’s strength is revealed. Moreover, let’s be the dads who choose to walk in confidence because we know that when we do not know what we ought to pray that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. so, let’s be the dads who know we are not alone, God will never leave us nor abandon us so we can choose to walk in confidence today.
Today’s Devotional kicks off on the topic of not knowing what to day. It asks about ever being in situations where you are “at a loss for words?”, “comment took you off guard”, “bad news shocked you” and you found yourself in “stunned silence”. Let’s grab a hold of the reality that “there are times when we don’t know what to say.”
Today’s Devotional also shares how we can even have this issues of not knowing what to say or express ourselves when it comes to prayer. It speaks to how we don’t need to lose heart but instead we can “remember that when we can’t find the words to express ourselves, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and speaks to God on our behalf”. He knows our heart, our concerns, our yearnings, our longings, our needs, and is able to express it “in ways we cannot comprehend”. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate who “represents our concerns to God the Father.”
Let’s be the dads who grab a hold to the concluding thought of Today’s Devotional that “when we can’t find the words to express ourselves to God, our hearts desires will be translated to our loving Heavenly Father by our Comforter, the Holy Spirit.”
A. W. TOZER
