Unspoken

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

     Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

 

A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

     Psalm 141:1-2 (NKJV)

During our church service, after the pastor mentions specific prayer requests, he asks if there are any unspoken requests and there always seem to be some.  At first, I didn’t understand why people would ask the congregation to pray for something and not tell us what it was.  But I realized there may be various reasons for not wanting to publicly share the details.  And I remembered that there is indeed is a Scriptural basis for unspoken prayers.

Concerns weigh heavy on our hearts and we can’t seem to put them into words. We may be overwhelmed with emotion and yet can’t articulate our feelings. We may see events playing out in our world and not know how to pray. We may have prayed for the same person for so long and can’t seem to find any fresh way to intercede. But Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be with us in these times of weakness, help us pray and make intercession for us.  What a blessing to know that He hears our hearts even when we don’t speak.

During Old Testament times, the priest would take a glowing coal from the temple altar and use it to light the incense in the holy place. As the children of Israel would pray at this time, they could visualize their prayers ascending to God’s throne as the smoke and aroma of the burning incense would arise from the sanctuary.  What a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit’s work with our prayers, even ones we don’t utter out loud. 

We can be comforted to know that God hears our unspoken prayers and He helps the burden on our heart even when we can’t put it into words.

Unspoken a song by the Jordan Family Band