THE (Holy Spirit) SECRET PRAYER

It is a fact that many people find it difficult to pray when they are under stress. There are times when it seems as though some cannot pray. For many who are experiencing the effects of the global recession, the weight of it all makes praying harder and harder. There is also the reality that the enemy (Satan) does not want us to pray and tries to prevent us from praying when it is absolutely necessary for us.

There have been times when I was so affected by an external circumstance that I found it ‘easier said than done’ to fall on my knees or face and pray. I have since learned that it is when we are at our lowest or our weakest that we really need to seek God in prayer. God always rewards us with His JOY, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV) and a peace which passes understanding (Philippians 4:7 KJV).

So what does the scripture say about those times when we cannot pray? My readers should know by now that the Holy Spirit always leads me to examine the texts from which our English translation of the Holy Bible was made. Let us go to it now.

The Greek text literally tells us that the Holy Spirit helps our weaknesses because we do not know what we need to pray about when there is the need to pray. The text also says the Holy Spirit Himself makes intercessory prayer for us with sighs that cannot be expressed in words.

The seal of the Holy Spirit is the mark of God and is upon every born-again believer. We belong to God and because we belong to God the Holy Spirit is there to fulfill our every need. When we can't pray He takes over like autopilot and begins to pray for us with these sighs which words cannot express. Take a deep breath right now. Go ahead no one is looking. Okay, now let it out in a sigh. This is how the Holy Spirit prays for you when you cannot pray.

The Holy Spirit prays for us and Christ Himself who searches the hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit, understands this secret prayer which is made on our behalf by the Holy Spirit. Christ also intercedes for us to God so in essence He repeats the prayer of the Holy Spirit to God for us. Christ also pleads our cause to God because He has experienced the things we experience now. Christ understands our predicament and is able to articulate it precisely to God on our behalf. Look at what the Holy Bible says:

“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. 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.” Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)

Please understand that the Holy Spirit is a HE as described in other scriptures such as in John 15:26 and John 16:13. He is the third person of the triune ELOHIYM. The Greek word translated ‘itself’ is AUTOS in the Greek text. It is literally used in instances where ‘himself, herself, themselves and itself’ are the translated English words.

The groanings which cannot be uttered are the sighs that words cannot express. I know that a few people reading this just rocked back in their chairs thinking: “The Greek text says that? Wow!” It sure did! I rocked back in my chair too when the Holy Spirit first gave this to me.

It is very important that you remember this: When you don’t know what to say in prayer, or you cannot pray, make yourself available to the Holy Spirit so that He can pray for you. Take up an ‘attitude of prayer’, make time to go into your ‘secret place’, position yourself with patient humility, and wait. I guarantee that since you can’t talk the Holy Spirit will take over and pray the prayer that directly addresses your need.

Be blessed and don't forget to pray.