The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us. – Romans 8:26
Have you ever told someone, or had them tell you, “Just breathe?” In moments of great tension or anxiety, when life seems out of control, concentrating on slowly breathing in and out helps calm the nervous system and mind. Prayer is similar to that type of breath in the spirit of a Christ-follower. As your body exhales, toxic chemicals are removed, making room for that which is life-giving and necessary. As you exhale prayer, you confess and repent of sin and invite God into your circumstances. When you inhale, you take in oxygen, which enriches your blood and fuels organs to sustain life. Inhaling in prayer, the Holy Spirit fills you with the revelation of God’s love and moves you forward in His will.
When someone is physically congested, say from a chest cold or bronchitis, it can be very difficult to take a deep breath. At times in your faith journey, the cares of this world may cause “congestion” in your soul and spirit, and you may stop praying. When your body is ill, you trust a good physician. If you are having trouble praying, you need to trust the Holy Spirit. In both cases, the important thing is to show up and put yourself in the hands of the Healer.
Today’s complicated world might make one wonder specifically what to pray, but a simple prayer is like an oxygen mask – it will preserve life, even if it appears uninflated. Ask God to bless the United States with spiritual health and national healing. Trust that He knows specifically what that entails. And remember, for your own spiritual health, just breathe a prayer.
Today’s Verse: Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 5:13-18
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
