Today’s devotion comes from Romans 8:26-27.
“26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27.
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In the prior Scripture, we read about our suffering and that we “groan”, and even the whole creation “groans”. See especially Romans 8:22-23. And, today’s Scripture starts “in the same way”. Therefore, the description of the Holy Spirit’s intercession for us by the use of the word “groanings” carries more meaning than just the deep feeling of love and passion that the Holy Spirit has for us. In a sense, the Holy Spirit is so intimately acquainted with us and feels such empathy toward us that the Holy Spirit echoes each of our groans with His own groaning to intercede for us.
However, the Holy Spirit’s groanings for us are not limited to our own groans. We may be in danger yet feel quite peaceful and content, but the Holy Spirit will still groan for us. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17.
“1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.” Psalm 139:1-6.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.” Psalm 139:1-6.
The Holy Spirit’s intercession is not just intimate acquaintance and feelings and requests for us. The Holy Spirit is a real Helper. “… the Spirit also helps our weakness …” Romans 8:26.
John 14:16
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;”
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;”
John 14:26
‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
John 15:26
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,’
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,’
In conclusion, the groanings and other help of the Holy Spirit are so powerful and effective that the very next verse is a conjunction to the Scripture for today, joined by the word “and”. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 