Quiet Devotions is a daily devotion based on one of the readings from the Daily Lectionary (as it appears in the back of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Augsburg Fortress, 2006). All biblical quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless otherwise noted. May these devotions help bring you in closer relationship with the Triune God.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Year B, The Day of Pentecost


Inspired by Romans 8:22-27

“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.”  Romans 8:26

God is the creator and we are his creation.  He is holy, and we are sinners in need of his grace.  With all that we’ve done against him and his creation, be it intentionally, accidentally, or thoughtlessly, it is no wonder many of us fear to approach him in prayer.  We don’t know what to say, or else we fear saying the wrong thing and making our situations worse.

But God wants us to approach him in prayer.  He has sent us his Spirit not only to guide us in our ways, but also to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  When we don’t know what to do, the Spirit will encourage us in the ways of righteousness.  When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit will pray for us.

We are welcome and encouraged to bring our concerns, our desires, our praises, our fears, and our thanksgivings to God.  If we have something to say, God wants us to say it.  But even when we don’t know what to say, God still wants us to come before him in prayer, and his Spirit will express those feelings which defy words, which defy explanation, but which help define us.  God knows us to our very core, even better than we know ourselves, and when we trust his Spirit to guide even our wordless prayers we will grow closer to the One who created us out of his love, who redeemed us with his mercy, and who sustains us with his grace.

Let us pray.  God of life, you sent your Spirit to guide us in our ways and bring us closer to you.  Enable us to trust in your Holy Spirit, that we may indeed grow closer to you in our prayers and in our lives.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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