“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 (Rom. 8:26).”
In the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, a young man named Christian tries to court a beauty named Roxane. Christian doesn’t have the words to profess his love, but Cyrano does.
Standing in the shadows beneath Roxane’s window, Cyrano prompts the young suitor with lavish prose that softens Roxane’s heart for the young man. The words are powerful and ring true, not only because they are beautifully formed but because they come from Cyrano’s own deep love for Roxane.
Cyrano speaks not only with greater eloquence than Christian can muster, but with greater fervor than the younger suitor’s heart can actually feel.
While the parallels are not exact, Cyrano’s story relates the dynamics of divine intercession. Though we may not know all the right words to say to God, another speaks for us – the Holy Spirit. And He does not merely correct the content for our prayers, but the fervor. With groanings deeper than we can feel, he makes heartfelt petitions to God for us.
So even when you don’t know what or how to pray – pray, trusting the Holy Spirit to intercede with the petitions and the heart you need.
Prayer: Lord, even though I don’t always know what or how to pray, keep me coming to the God I love by trusting the Holy Spirit to intercede for me!
