Romans 8:26-28
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
In our confession reading, we are going back to finish up the Westminster Catechism. The last section focuses on prayer, and on the Lord’s Prayer, which we sing here every week.
Prayer is offering
up our desires to God for things agreeable to His will. Notice our desires need shaping to His
will. Prayer is one way God does
this. It’s meant to change us, not
Him. Our desire may be, “I want to
relax! I want a vacation!” But God has given you 1 day in 7 to relax,
the other 6 are to work. We want peace when God calls us to fight. Or we want to fight, when God calls us to peace! We want
comfort, but God gives us hardship.
We don’t know what
to pray for. We often do not know what
we want or need. But God knows what is best for
us, and He is working that out in our lives somehow. This is hard to accept. Sometimes we know exactly what we want and
we’re convinced God must give it to us, or life will be over. No, it won’t.
We have to die to ourselves, but that is not the end. New life in Jesus is the glorious result.
This reminds us of our need to confess
our sins.
10/23/22
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