Romans 8:26 - God's Promise To Help Us Pray

Romans 8:26-28, “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. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I cherish this promise from God. I am reminded of this Scripture passage often. In Romans 8:26 God promises that “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The good LORD knows that we cannot see what goes on in the spiritual world (Ephesians 6:10-12). When Daniel prayed, he later learned from the angel sent to help him, that demonic forces hindered Daniel's answer to prayer. ...

Daniel 10:12-13, “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

This passage of Scripture teaches us that when we pray, the spiritual gears start turning. You're never wasting your time when you pray. If you believe that the King James Bible is verbally (Word for Word) inspired by God, then you must concede that God cares about you (1st Peter 5:7-8). You must concede that God is faithful (1st Corinthians 1:9). You must concede that God is good to all (Psalms 145:9).

Saints Walk By Faith, Not By Sight

I used to get frustrated when I prayed because I didn't see visible results right away. But then I read one day in the Word of God from 2nd Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” If we pray and look for results, we are walking by sight. That simply doesn't work friend. It disturbs me when I read about stuff like this—heathens putting God on trial. ...

Prayers Don't Help Heart Surgery Patients; Some Fare Worse When Prayed For 

Harvard University | April 3, 2006 

So far, two studies found that third-party prayers bestow benefits, but two others concluded that there are no benefits. Now, the largest study to date, covering 1,800 people who underwent coronary bypass surgery at six different hospitals, supported the latter research.

Many — if not most people — believe that prayer will help you through a medical crisis such as heart bypass surgery. If a large group of people outside yourself, your family, and your friends joined in intercessory prayer, that should be even more helpful, so such reasoning goes.

Researchers have been trying to prove this and even to measure the effect. So far, two studies found that third-party prayers bestow benefits, but two others concluded that there are no benefits. Now, the largest study to date, covering 1,800 people who underwent coronary bypass surgery at six different hospitals, supported the latter research.

Not only that, but patients who knew that others were praying for them fared worse than those who did not receive such spiritual support, or who did but were not aware of it. SOURCE

Do you really think that you can test God like you would a engine's horsepower? Dear reader, God is not a vending machine or an ATM where you insert some cash or a card, push some buttons, and get a response. The heathen people who did this test clearly do not have any faith in God. They do not fear their Creator. People with faith don't need to test God.

My mother used to say that God works in mysterious ways. That is, they are mysterious to us because God thinks and works differently than we do. Isaiah 55:8-9, “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The most foolish and vain thing you will ever do is to attempt to figure out God. Don't bother trying dear friend, because the LORD's ways are beyond human understanding. The Holy Bible is full of amazing true stories of how God beautifully worked from behind the scenes in ways that no one suspected. The intriguing stories of Joseph, Moses and Esther are perfect examples.

Jesus told us in Mark 11:22b, “Have faith in God.” That's good enough for me. The Word of God says we walk by FAITH as God's redeemed children, not by SIGHT as the world does. I have heard fools all my life challenge God, demanding some type of visible proof before they will believe the Holy Bible. But dear reader, the only evidence they will ever receive from God is the same evidence that was given to the rich's man's five living brothers....

Luke 16:28-31, “For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Pray And Then Just Trust The Good And Faithful Lord

When I pray these days, I just make my requests known unto God and then I forget about them. Whether God answers in an obvious visible way, or He quietly works behind the scenes, or not at all, is none of my business. My simple part is to trust the Lord and lean not upon my own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” I think most of us pass over that part about not leaning “unto thine own understanding,” which is why so many people get discouraged when they pray and things don't happen the way they want.

Learn to simply pray and then wait upon the LORD. Did you know that “God” is not mentioned even one time in the entire book of Esther? It's true. Neither will you find the word “Lord.” Yet, throughout all ten chapters we beautifully see the mighty omnipotent, omnipresent, omnisapient, omnibenevolent and omniscient hand of God at work in the lives of His dear saints. The lesson is this: When you cannot see the HAND of God at work, trust the great HEART of God.

God has made a wonderful promise in Romans 8:26 that the indwelling Holy Spirit (which every born again believer has living inside their body, soul and spirit) maketh INTERCESSION for us. God cares more than you or I could ever comprehend. Since we live in a fallen world, we have to suffer like everyone else does (Romans 5:12; Ecclesiastes 9:11). Sometimes good things happen to bad people, and vise versa. Life is not fair! Life is a veil of tears. But dear reader, God is fair. God is faithful. God is just. I cannot explain it in lieu of this world's horrific suffering, but I believe the inspired Word of God.

I have confirmed from various sources the tragic fact, that every day in this broken world approximately 25,000 people die of starvation or related issues due to a lack of proper nutrition. That's 25,000 deaths each and every single day! The country of India is the second largest producer of food on the planet, and yet India is the third leading country with deaths from starvation. Go figure! The causes are greedy, poverty, lack of infrastructure, logistics and corruption, to name but a few reasons. So sad! That is not God's fault. The LORD is not to blame for the evil ways of mankind. The haves don't care about the have nots, just like in the United States today. Homelessness and poverty is an epidemic across America.

I find great comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit is constantly looking out for me, praying on my behalf to the heavenly Father. Romans 8:26b plainly says “for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” The Bible doesn't say that some saints don't know what to pray for, it says NONE of us know what to pray for. How can we since we cannot see the unseen world? I'll be the first to admit that I sure don't know what to ask Go for, and that is what prayer is, asking. This passage goes perfectly with another Scripture passage...

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

When you trust God because of WHO HE IS, instead of focusing upon prayer as some type of beneficial therapy as the heathen world does (Matthew 6:7-8), only then will you begin to blindly trust the faithful LORD in all situations. Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” The only way that you can claim the peace of God WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING is you'll have to trust that God is wise, caring and powerful enough to handle your prayer requests.

Forget about focusing on your prayer life, and instead start focusing on God's goodness and faithfulness to keep His promises.