Same Subject Two Different Prayers

Welcome to His Light, Your Path, with Pastor Rod Holler Sr.

Today's devotional is titled Same Subject to Different Prayers.

Have you ever poured your heart out to God only to wonder if your prayers really make a difference?

Maybe you've asked yourself why isn't God answering the way I hoped?

Why do God's answers sometimes look so different from what we expect?

And now here's Pastor Holler.

Romans 8, 26-28.

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.

But the Spirit itself makeeth intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And He that searches the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.

Because He makeeth intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8 is teaching about spiritual growth.

A vital part of spiritual growth is prayer.

Therefore, Paul includes this important passage concerning prayer.

As human beings, we are an amazing creation that could only be created by an Almighty God.

Yet we are limited concerning many things.

Because we are limited, therefore, we often do not know how to pray or what to pray.

Let us read again Romans 8, 26, likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.

Our prayers are often faulty, no matter how well-intentioned they may be.

Since our understanding is limited, we tend to ask for things without appreciating the whole matter.

We do not have the big picture to fully understand situations and circumstances.

Therefore, our prayers are often faulty.

God has provided the Holy Spirit to pray and make intercessions for us.

So what we have are two prayers for the same situation.

We are praying about something and the Holy Spirit is praying about the same thing, thus, two prayers.

But our prayer is faulty and the Holy Spirit's prayer is perfect because he is the Holy Spirit of God.

Romans 8, 27, and he that searches the heart's knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

So the Holy Spirit is praying in the perfect will of God, while we are praying as best as we know how, with limited understanding.

Certainly, the prayer of the Holy Spirit is the one that is answered.

Our prayer is not answered, yet it is answered.

The answer to our prayer is not what we expected, because our prayer was faulty.

Since the Holy Spirit was making intercession for us about God's will for us, our prayer was answered perfectly,

but we don't recognize the answer.

We were expecting something else.

We are to accept what God has answered our prayer according to His perfect will for us.

Even in our lack of understanding, we must realize that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to His purpose.

In the context, this teaching concerning prayer is part of the teaching about spiritual growth.

The Holy Spirit is praying that the believer would be spiritually mature, which is to be like Jesus.

And that is the working together for good for the believer.

God is working to make every believer like Jesus.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit prays that for us.

Many times, we do not recognize the answer to our prayers, but those answers are working a good work in our lives.

So take heart if you feel that your prayers are not being answered.

God is answering and working to make you like His Son Jesus, and that is not a faulty answer to prayer.

That wraps up Pastor Hollis devotional, same subject, two different prayers.

Today, we were reminded that even when our prayers feel weaker uncertain, the Holy Spirit is stepping in for us,

praying exactly in line with God's perfect will.

If you're feeling discouraged or confused about how your prayers are bringing answered,

remember, God hears you, God answers, and He is working for your good, even if you can't see it yet.

Join us again tomorrow for another devotional with Pastor Hollis.

To catch up on his past broadcasts, visit hislightyourpath.com.