Have you ever had a time where you wanted to pray for something, but just didn’t have the words? Or maybe you weren’t sure if the thing you wanted and were praying for was really what God wanted for you. I can think of countless examples in my own life that fit these two scenarios, and that is why Romans 8:26-27 has been such a comfort to me in my prayer life.

As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and this verse tells us first that He helps us in our weakness. I don’t know about you, but for me that is good news, because I am a weak human being. What better help could I ask for than the all-knowing, all-powerful third member of the Godhead?

The verse then says when we don’t know what we should be praying for, the Holy Spirit comes in and intercedes, or intervenes on our behalf. And we can trust that what the Holy Spirit asks for is always in line with the will of God because He and the Father are one.

Here’s the mental picture I get, and I say this with all the reverence in the world for the Holy Spirit and the work He does. I like to call the Holy Spirit my Holy Prayer Editor. When I am sitting on my couch in the living room praying, I picture my words ascending to the Father. Ans especially when I am struggling with what to pray for, I image the Holy Spirit above me, intercepting my prayer before it gets to the Father, making any needed corrections and adjustments, and then sending it on up.

I know this is not a perfect analogy, but bear with me. You see, the Holy Spirit knows our hearts, and He knows God’s good plan for us. So when I am praying for something that I think will come one way, but He knows is not the way that is best for me, I see Him taking my prayer to the Father and saying, ” Look God, We know this is what she asked for, but what she really wants and needs is this.” So the heart of my prayer is answered, but maybe not in the way I asked for or expected. But always in a way that is good, because that’s just who God is. And what is the next verse in this passage? “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

God’s plans are good. His timing is good. Because He is good. Trust the power of the Holy Spirit in your prayers to intercede for you.