I over slept this morning after a hectic day at Wisconsin’s Solo Ensemble Event and did not make it to church.  When that has happened in the past, I try to listen to one of Max Lucado’s sermons; this week’s was entitled, “The Holy Spirit Is the Forgotten Gift of God.”  We learned many things from the COVID epidemic; one of the biggest lessons was that many people do not know how to pray.  They feel that they are not capable of praying and that God would not like what they said.  The opposite is true; God loves all our prayers, no matter how feeble or awful we feel they are.  What matters is that we pray, that we are giving “our best shot” at communicating with Him.

Any one can pray when life is fun, happy, and glorious; during the storms, however, many of us worry that God will not hear us when we groan, cry, scream fears or dreads, or are in pain.  The Apostle Paul said that we are always in the presence of God when we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.  When our minds discourage us and our painful physical conditions stop us from praying, the Holy Spirit helps our groaning and sad attempts to reach the One who is our provider.  Romans 8: 26-27 (KJV) states: “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.”

Our physical pains and our worldly troubles drain us of our energy and spirit; prayers help us in our weaknesses.  Many of us are insistent for what we want but become sad or angry at what we actually get.  We ask how to walk with the Holy Spirit in our hearts; the answer is to pray.  The greatest force in the universe is the Holy Spirit, our strongest advocate with God.  Ephesians 6:18 (KJV) states: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Holy Spirit  

We ask, oh Lord, for mercy and blessings, unceasing songs.

We ask for inviting grace, uniting peace, endearing love.

Help us to remember Christ’s pain, passion, and resurrection.

Help us to follow Him, to love tomorrow, and to know Him as our savior and friend.

Hear us, Holy Spirit, and give us your blessings, make us strong for the weak, and able to help the needy.

Hear us, Holy Spirit, as we seek hope for the angry, peace for the mournful, and comfort and guidance for all.

Anna Hartt