Power of the Spirit

Read It:  Romans 8:26-28 (NRSV)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Learn It:

The Spirit is a wonderful part of the Trinity.  Sometimes I think we don't often talk about the workings and the importance of the Spirit enough.  Yet this passage tells us the important work the Spirit does on our behalf and in our midst.  When life gets too hard and we are unable for one reason or another to tell God what it is that is really bothering us or upsetting us or distressing us...it is the Spirit that knows that pain in our lives and intercedes on our behalf.  It is the Spirit that takes over when we are too busy or too preoccupied to tell God what is really on our hearts and minds.  When our sighs are so deep that we don't have even a word to say the Spirit tells God what is going on so that God may search our heart to know how to make our situation work toward something good.  That is just one of the many wonderful things the Spirit does for us in our lives.

Share It:

Have you ever been so upset at something or soemone (whether angry or sad) and you just had no idea how to put it into words?  What was that situation and what made it so hard to talk about?  Do you think there is ever a conversation you couldn't have with God?  What kinds of things would you be hesitant to tell God?  Why?  Share these thoughts and others that come up as you discuss this with your family.

Live It:

This week while you are out and about in your life try to focus on the difficutl situations that you encounter and if you don't have a word to offer up to God then I simply encourage you to just say the name "God" and then take in a deep breath and sigh.  Let that big sigh be the letting go or the release of the situation.  Let the Spirit take it over from there so that the Spirit can intercede on your behalf. 

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.