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
“Just Breathe,” why do people say that little phrase to each other? Even in the most anxious moments, when life seems out of control, somehow slowing down and breathing in-and-out for a minute will help. Prayer is like that kind of breath in the life of a Christ-follower.
As your body exhales, toxic and unuseful chemicals are removed, making room for what is life-giving and necessary. Likewise, in exhaling a prayer, sins are confessed, and God is invited into your circumstances. When you inhale, taking in oxygen, your blood enriches, fueling organs to sustain life. Inhaling in prayer, the Holy Spirit rushes in to reveal God’s love and moving you forward in His will.
Unfortunately, sometimes it is hard to take a good deep breath, like when someone has a chest cold or bronchitis. At times in your faith journey, the cares of this world may cause “congestion” in your mind 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 part is to show up and put yourself in the hands of the Healer.
Today’s complicated world makes it hard to know 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.
