Do you ever awaken in the middle of the night knowing that you need to pray but don’t know for what? The last few nights I have done just that. Often in the past if I had a question for which I prayed in the evening, the answer would awaken me at two or three in the morning by way of a verse, a song, or a whispered thought accompanied by peace. Then it would be I knew the answer. Yet, there are those times in which I awaken with a restless sense that I need to pray; but I am uncertain as to why. So the question might arise, how can I pray when I don’t know what to ask for? Romans Chapter 8 beginning in verse 25 helps us to understand a bit more the Gracious Wonder of prayer with the help of the Holy Spirit. “25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” When we don’t know what it is we need to pray for, we can be assured that the Holy Spirit is omniscient. The Holy Spirit as part of the Trinity sees the full depth of our hearts, the future we are about to face, the needs of our loved ones and the full picture of God’s perfect plan for our lives. He knows precisely the prayer that is needed.
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws
There is no need to be anxiously fretting about anything when we know that in those moments all we need do is quietly pray.
In fact, I have found that I go about this in 4 steps which I hope help you as well.
1. First, I just say “Good morning Lord—looks like we need to talk, but I don’t know where to begin so please just look into my heart”
2. I either listen to scripture on my I-phone app or I open my Bible to read scripture
3. Then I quietly lay very still for a time, listening to the silence surrounding me.
4. Then, I praise God for all He has done and continues to do in my life. I thank Him for protecting my family while naming each one. I thank Him for His grace and mercy toward me through His son.
Then I usually fall back to sleep, knowing God has it all in the palm of His Hand.
If you know Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit is always present with you to help you even when you cannot feel His presence. That is when we might want to sing Come, Holy Spirit
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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