Romans 8:26-39.                              Prayer - when can't pray!!!          30/7/17

{26)  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. {27} 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. {28} And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. {29} For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. {30} And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. {31} What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? {32} He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? {33} Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. {34} Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. {35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? {36} As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." {37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. {38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, {39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What a great encouragement we find here in these verses before us this morning. Particularly for those of us who are weak and who struggle with life, especially in the area of prayer. So often today we are given the impression that if we are a good Christian, then we won't struggle and hassle in this area; and all by in large will be well for us.

The thinking often goes: when it comes to prayer, it is something that should come naturally to all of us. We should have no real trouble in praying and in what needs to be prayed for. The better the Christian, the easier and better will be the prayers, and greater things will happen around us as a result.

Sadly, so often it seems, that this is what it we are told it should be like for a Christian who has it all together. Along with that we are made to feel guilty or within ourselves feel bad and inadequate, because that is not the way that it is for us personally.

I wonder how many of us here today have troubles in this area. When we have to pray it often seems to make no real sense at all – we mumble and jumble words, with lots of pauses. We have trouble in thinking what we should even be praying for. So we think the prayer is so weak and ineffectual. When we don't automatically see the results that we had hoped for, we are left feeling that it is all a waste of time.

Now how many us here when we need God most all find that perhaps all we do is yell and scream at him. We can't seem to say anything worthwhile and helpful. Then we worry like heck that we have fouled it all up. Perhaps we are not so good after all; and so are left feeling weak and hopeless.

Yet it is right here that we reminded that when we are at our weakest;

When we are lost for words and don't know how to pray; it is then that the greatest prayers ascend to God. Yes, that is what God's Word here says. Wow - that is something - that is a real encouragement to us all.

Now there are a lot of people in ‘Christian’ circles who have trouble with what I am saying here. The charismatics and ‘super- Christians’ may find this hard to swallow. To the ‘me’ focussed person it sounds ridiculous. But that is what this text is saying to us here today. To me that message is most encouraging indeed.

For all of us who struggle and feel weak and ineffectual this really does give us a lift and hope; it helps us to keep going. Above all it re-emphasises the greatness and love of our Lord, who cares for us, simply because he does. As a result, the things that need to happen in our lives happen, because he has made us a part of his family. He does what is best for us, even when we don’t know what that is or how it can happen. As a result, life has a peace and serenity about it that is beyond belief.

Let me use an illustration to help us understand all of this. A tiny little new-born baby. How does it survive? How does it get what it needs? It can't say in well-articulated words what it wants. Mum can you please change my nappy because I have made a mess in mine. Or mum can I please have a feed, for I am hungry. No it merely cries.

How does it get fed and changed? How does the message get through? Mum knows, doesn't she? She might only hear a little squeak - a half cry – and she is there - baby's every need is taken care of. Even though the baby cannot communicate well, its needs are met.

But then what happens when we get older and think that we are much smarter. We think that we are pretty good with communicating our needs and wants. We have learnt how to use and manipulate the system. But what happens? Mum can have I have some lollies or biscuits, even though it is almost dinner time. Often with no please or thank you associated with it. Then we wonder why we are not enjoying our dinner, or our teeth are rotting away, or why we don't get what we want.

A little further on; Dad can we sit up and watch this program on TV, but we don't say that it is an Adults Only program. Then we wonder later in life why our morality all screwed up. We become very good at asking for and manipulating things so we get our way, to hang with the cost.

When we get older still, we just take what we want and do what we want without consultation at all and we think we are very clever; we have got it all together and we can do as we please. Life becomes all about me and what I think and what I want.

Now in all of this, who is best off? Who is the most cared for? Who gets what they really need and are most at peace? Our brain and pride says the older and smarter we get the better it all is. The more we can say what want and the bravado that we have, the more we will get what we want and the happier we will be.

But if we think it through seriously, we are playing a fool’s game. More often than not, we are mucking it all up for ourselves and for others. We       seek the wrong things, because we don't know, or want to know all the facts.  The baby however, more than any, gets the best attention and is the most at peace, perhaps for the very reason that it can't communicate well.

Now I know this illustration has its limits and shortfalls, but we can see something of a crossover into the area of our prayers and our life before God.

As Heavenly Father, he takes good care of us as his children. Through baptism we have been made his children, and he promises to take care of us. So we can be sure that He is there taking care of everything for us. Seeking to do what is best for us. Whether it is troubles or hardships even, he is there using it all for good. Even when we act like a spoilt teenager and do things which are completely wrong, he is ever there seeking to use the troubles we bring on ourselves for our good. He may allow these troubles to harm us so that we turn back to him and seek again what is good for us.

So when it comes to prayer, even when not a word of prayer comes or it is a jumbled up mess of words, we have the assurance that God's Spirit is there bringing our concerns to the one who can do something about it. We know that as a result of Jesus’ coming to earth and living, dying and rising again, all for our benefit, that he is now concerned about us and what is going on in our lives.

He wants us to have the best, and his Spirit is taking our every need to God whether we speak it or not. Above all, because it is his Spirit who is doing the asking on our behalf, we know that he is asking for only what is good and beneficial for us. He knows God's will far better than we do, and he knows what will truly help us.

So always, we can be sure that our needs are being brought to our Lord, whether we are in the mood for it or not: whether we pray or not; whether we think it is good enough or not. The Spirit is pleading for us, and that has to be the best of prayers. So when we can't pray, rest assured that your every need is reaching the one who needs to hear it and who wants to help.

Now with that assurance and encouragement we can go on confidently; and we can also pray. Just as a parent loves to have their children talk to them and ask for things, even more so does the Lord ache to have us speak to him. He dearly loves us to share our thoughts and concerns with him.

He also longs for us to look to him and be guided by him as to what is good and right for us. Wanting us to really feel that closeness that comes through communication. But now to do it knowing that the Spirit is there making sense of what we are saying and bringing it to the Lord in a way that is truly right and good.

Our Great and gracious God cares about each of us always. Especially when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable. How comforting and reassuring that us for us as we go through life. To him then be all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish