"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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 with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:22-27
I remember when our daughter, Tricia, was three years old and she got a really bad case of the flu. She had a high fever that stayed at about 103 degrees for several days. She coughed and had a runny nose and her little body ached from head to toe. Beverly spent hours every day trying to bring her fever down and comfort her--offering her juice, giving out doses of Tylenol, spooning chicken soup into her mouth, and giving her cool baths. Nothing seemed to help.
Probably the hardest part of it was her sitting on our couch and crying and saying over and over, “I’m having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.” She knew she was miserable, but she didn’t know what she needed. She only knew she needed something and was wanting someone to figure out what she needed to feel better. Unfortunately, in this case, the flu just had to run its course.
When I think of the Holy Spirit being our Intercessor, I think of why we need an Intercessor. The Bible talks about all of creation groaning (Romans 8:22) and how we don’t know what to pray for. (Romans 8:26) I don’t know about you, but I can relate to that.
There have been so many times in my life that I have been in a situation that had so many facets that I literally felt confused and overwhelmed. I could hardly hold onto a thought long enough to finish that thought, and I felt like all my options had merit, but also some serious complications. I had no clue what was the best way to go to solve the problem. I didn’t know how to pray or what to ask for, and honestly there were times when I had little strength to pray except to send up a flash prayer, saying “HELP!”
While there were times when I didn’t know what to pray, there have also been times that I thought I knew EXACTLY what needed to happen in a given situation. So I would pray asking God to do what I thought He should do. Thankfully, I look back on those situations where he didn’t give me what I was asking for and realize that God in His wisdom chose to not answer those prayers in the way I wanted.
The term “Intercessor” means “pleading on behalf of another,” but it also has the aspect of “intervening.” (Romans 8:27) When I think about not knowing what to pray for or even misguidedly praying in a wrong way, it is encouraging to know that God in His wisdom has provided an Intercessor who will not only plead on my behalf but also will intervene for me. I can imagine Him literally stepping in and telling God what I really need and maybe rescuing me from myself! That is grace, isn’t it?
So talk to me. In what areas of your life are you struggling? As you walk through the tough times in your life, do you ever feel confused and not know what to pray? What are your thoughts about the Holy Spirit interceding for you—pleading on your behalf? Do you find that comforting and encouraging? Is it helpful to know that you have the Holy Spirit to intervene as well? Does this passage also raise your awareness of the need to pray according to God’s will? Does it give you new thoughts about God’s love for us and his compassion for our groanings?
Post a comment! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Yesterday we finished talking about Abram's journey -- The Stages of Our Faith.
While I've read this passage many times (Genesis 15) it never hit me like it did this week. Reading that God, and God alone walked through the split halves of the animals, guaranteeing the deal with Abram -- and relating that to what Jesus did on the cross for me.
Just as Abram could not have kept his end of the deal (never sinning again), neither can we. Jesus "sealed the deal". He paid the price - for us! It was in His power - I couldn't do it! Only God makes the deal good. Only He could keep the terms of the contract. In His great love for us, He prevented us from participating in the guaranteeing of the deal - we just have to accept and believe.
It's great to be able to "see Jesus" in the Old Testament too!
PJ
While I've read this passage many times (Genesis 15) it never hit me like it did this week. Reading that God, and God alone walked through the split halves of the animals, guaranteeing the deal with Abram -- and relating that to what Jesus did on the cross for me.
Just as Abram could not have kept his end of the deal (never sinning again), neither can we. Jesus "sealed the deal". He paid the price - for us! It was in His power - I couldn't do it! Only God makes the deal good. Only He could keep the terms of the contract. In His great love for us, He prevented us from participating in the guaranteeing of the deal - we just have to accept and believe.
It's great to be able to "see Jesus" in the Old Testament too!
PJ
Monday, January 26, 2009
70 Days - A Check In
OK... so January is almost over... In fact, it was a month ago that we talked about 2009 and keeping the "Resolutions" from Proverbs 3...
So...
1. Are we finding our love and faithfulness for the Lord and for others growing?
2. Do you find yourself trusting in the Lord more today than last month - or last week?
3. Are you seeking HIS wisdom in all of your dealings?
4. Are you honoring the Lord with your wealth?
5. Are you open and welcoming the Lord's discipline?
6. Are you DAILY asking the Lord for wisdom?
7. How's your fear level? Does the daily news trigger heightened anxiety?
8. Are you serving others more?
9. Are you "plotting good" towards your neighbor?
and...
10. Whose ways are you choosing to mimic?
Comments welcomed... and responded to with inner glee!
Have a blessed week...
PJ
So...
1. Are we finding our love and faithfulness for the Lord and for others growing?
2. Do you find yourself trusting in the Lord more today than last month - or last week?
3. Are you seeking HIS wisdom in all of your dealings?
4. Are you honoring the Lord with your wealth?
5. Are you open and welcoming the Lord's discipline?
6. Are you DAILY asking the Lord for wisdom?
7. How's your fear level? Does the daily news trigger heightened anxiety?
8. Are you serving others more?
9. Are you "plotting good" towards your neighbor?
and...
10. Whose ways are you choosing to mimic?
Comments welcomed... and responded to with inner glee!
Have a blessed week...
PJ
Monday, January 12, 2009
GPS Change Your Course!
Yesterday we talked about God's GPS system for our lives. I was reading a story today, and I thought I would pass it on...
As a ship approached the coast of New England, a heavy fog set in. The ship's radar detected what appeared to be another vessel in its path, so the captain sent the following message: "Change your course 10 degrees port."
Shortly they received a reply: "Change YOUR course 10 degrees starboard."
The captain became annoyed and said: "I am a Lt. Commander of the U.S. Navy. Change your course!"
The was the response: "I am a Seaman 3rd class. Change your course!"
By now the captain was furious. His message read: "This is a battleship! Change your course!"
Moments later a message came across the wire that said: "This is a Lighthouse! Change your course!"
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US?
There are certain laws at work in the universe, and no amount of power, or money, or influence can change them.
These are God's laws. He designed them to work for us, not against us. In order for this to happen, we sometimes have to change our course. His laws don't change; we must change.
When we try to find happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in life through any method other than a personal relationship with God, we're setting ourselves up for failure.
But it doesn't have to be that way. We can change course at anytime. We can choose life over death; we can choose spiritual blessings over self-destruction.
God doesn't change His course to accommodate us, but if we're willing to change our course, to chart the path our life in His direction, He will open His arms wide to receive us, and will shower us with blessings from heaven, Here are His words...
"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
Your thoughts?
Blessings...
PJ
As a ship approached the coast of New England, a heavy fog set in. The ship's radar detected what appeared to be another vessel in its path, so the captain sent the following message: "Change your course 10 degrees port."
Shortly they received a reply: "Change YOUR course 10 degrees starboard."
The captain became annoyed and said: "I am a Lt. Commander of the U.S. Navy. Change your course!"
The was the response: "I am a Seaman 3rd class. Change your course!"
By now the captain was furious. His message read: "This is a battleship! Change your course!"
Moments later a message came across the wire that said: "This is a Lighthouse! Change your course!"
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US?
There are certain laws at work in the universe, and no amount of power, or money, or influence can change them.
These are God's laws. He designed them to work for us, not against us. In order for this to happen, we sometimes have to change our course. His laws don't change; we must change.
When we try to find happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in life through any method other than a personal relationship with God, we're setting ourselves up for failure.
But it doesn't have to be that way. We can change course at anytime. We can choose life over death; we can choose spiritual blessings over self-destruction.
God doesn't change His course to accommodate us, but if we're willing to change our course, to chart the path our life in His direction, He will open His arms wide to receive us, and will shower us with blessings from heaven, Here are His words...
"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
Your thoughts?
Blessings...
PJ
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Top Ten Reasons Why The Average Christian...
I know it's still football/basketball season, but I thought this was funny... and has a lot of truth!
Top 10 Reasons Why The Average Christian Can't Play Baseball
10. Doesn't practice all week, but expects to start on game day.
9. Gets upset when every ball that's hit doesn't come directly to him.
8. Never swings at a pitch because, "this pitcher doesn't throw like the last pitcher. The game's just not the same since he left."
7. Wants to run home before going to first base.
6. Chatters in order to keep his own teammates from hitting the ball.
5. Doesn't come to the game unless the coach personally calls him on the phone, each week, and invites him to show up.
4. Won't run after the ball if it's more than three feet away. After all, surely somebody will get it sooner or later.
3. Thinks baseball cleats are for leaving neat designs on his teammates backs.
2. Gets upset because the phone line to the bull pen doesn't have call waiting. If it did, he could gripe about how bad the pitcher is doing, and yet never miss out if someone wanted to talk about the catcher.
1. Thinks the game will last so long, that the concession stand will be closed before it's over.
From Pastor Danny Thomas, Osawatomie, KS by way of
http://www.angelfir e.com/ca4/ HumorHotline
How's our other "List of 10" doing?
PJ
Top 10 Reasons Why The Average Christian Can't Play Baseball
10. Doesn't practice all week, but expects to start on game day.
9. Gets upset when every ball that's hit doesn't come directly to him.
8. Never swings at a pitch because, "this pitcher doesn't throw like the last pitcher. The game's just not the same since he left."
7. Wants to run home before going to first base.
6. Chatters in order to keep his own teammates from hitting the ball.
5. Doesn't come to the game unless the coach personally calls him on the phone, each week, and invites him to show up.
4. Won't run after the ball if it's more than three feet away. After all, surely somebody will get it sooner or later.
3. Thinks baseball cleats are for leaving neat designs on his teammates backs.
2. Gets upset because the phone line to the bull pen doesn't have call waiting. If it did, he could gripe about how bad the pitcher is doing, and yet never miss out if someone wanted to talk about the catcher.
1. Thinks the game will last so long, that the concession stand will be closed before it's over.
From Pastor Danny Thomas, Osawatomie, KS by way of
http://www.angelfir e.com/ca4/ HumorHotline
How's our other "List of 10" doing?
PJ
Monday, January 5, 2009
Remove the stones.
Susan shared a concept with us yesterday from Isaiah 62:10. Simply said: "Remove the stones." She told us about the group she was ministering to who had tons of baggage; namely unforgiveness. She likened it to stones, and told them to "cast them into the river."
To me, this was very symbolic of the stuff in our lives that we haven't dealt with. Whether it's unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, or anything else, if it's preventing us from growing in the Lord and/or our relationships with others, we need to remove it. Maybe we need to find a body of water someplace and "cast some stones" where we will not be able to retrieve them!
Your thoughts???
PJ
To me, this was very symbolic of the stuff in our lives that we haven't dealt with. Whether it's unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, or anything else, if it's preventing us from growing in the Lord and/or our relationships with others, we need to remove it. Maybe we need to find a body of water someplace and "cast some stones" where we will not be able to retrieve them!
Your thoughts???
PJ
Saturday, January 3, 2009
70 Day Challenge
I promised everyone that I would keep the Resolutions (Proverbs 3) in front of us for awhile.
1. I will not let love or faithfulness ever leave me.
2. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart.
3. I will not be wise in my "own eyes".
4. I will honor the Lord with my wealth.
5. I will not despise the Lord's discipline.
6. I will search diligently for wisdom and find it.
7. I will have no fear.
8. I will not withhold good from those who deserve it.
9. I will not plot evil against my neighbor.
10. I will not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways.
Have any of these touched you? Have you been helped this week in any way as a result of seeking to follow these 10 resolutions? Post a comment. (Instructions are on the right side of the blog. It's easy...try it!)
PJ
1. I will not let love or faithfulness ever leave me.
2. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart.
3. I will not be wise in my "own eyes".
4. I will honor the Lord with my wealth.
5. I will not despise the Lord's discipline.
6. I will search diligently for wisdom and find it.
7. I will have no fear.
8. I will not withhold good from those who deserve it.
9. I will not plot evil against my neighbor.
10. I will not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways.
Have any of these touched you? Have you been helped this week in any way as a result of seeking to follow these 10 resolutions? Post a comment. (Instructions are on the right side of the blog. It's easy...try it!)
PJ
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