Connect 21- Prayer + Fasting - Holy Spirit, Our HelperSample

Day 16 | The Holy Spirit Prays the Will of God

If God the Father hears our prayers, why do we ask Holy Spirit to help us? It’s because we don’t know how to pray “as we ought” (verse 26). Do you know the deepest needs of your soul? There are probably desires inside you that you are not even conscious of. That’s where the Holy Spirit steps in. He thoroughly investigates our minds and souls to gather the information He needs to intercede on our behalf in prayer. He looks for clues we would not know to ask for and therefore would be unable to find on our own. And the Holy Spirit “knows what the mind of the Spirit is” (verse 27).

The Greek term translated “thought” in this passage refers to how a person thinks. Because the Holy Spirit is always searching your mind, He is fully aware of the thoughts that pass through it. He looks for where God’s will is within your thoughts and desires. The Holy Spirit wants to fulfill whatever dreams or purposes God has placed in your heart. When He finds them, He prays about them per God’s desires, which were mapped out in advance for you.

Even if you have some knowledge of your prayer target, it’s impossible to know every part of God’s plan. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, explores your mind and intervenes on your behalf based on what He discovers there. He prays for you, perfectly in line with God’s will, even when your prayers might miss the mark.

When our prayers don’t align with God’s will, the Holy Spirit steps in. Praying for things not in line with the Bible is a sin. You don’t have to consult God on matters like whether or not to steal, have sexual relations outside of marriage, or marry an unbeliever.

But in matters not clearly spelled out in Scripture, how can we know if our prayers follow God’s will? Let’s take a look at some examples from the Bible.

Both of Samson’s parents advised him against wedlock with a Philistine. Samson’s enemies were unaware that God planned to exploit his sinful motivations to punish the Philistines (Judges 14:1–4). Jeremiah was on the right track in asking God to protect His people from the Babylonians so long as they praised God’s name. However, it was God’s will to punish them (Jeremiah 14:19–15:2).

Satan asked Jesus to sift or crush Peter like wheat. I would have prayed that Peter would be protected from sin. But Jesus, who had perfect knowledge of God’s will, did not pray that Peter would not transgress. Instead, he prayed that his faith would not completely falter and that, once it was restored, he would strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:31–32).

We should make every effort to pray in accordance with God’s will. But suppose our petitions do not match God’s predetermined plan. In that case, the Holy Spirit will adjust our supplications to conform to God’s ultimate purpose. So, even if it appears like God is not listening to us, we can rest assured that whatever we are praying for will be granted in His perfect way and timing.

Reflection: You may not know how to pray as you should, but God has established prayer as a method for us to collaborate with Him in carrying out His sovereign will. He comforts us with the knowledge that the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, compassionately receives our petitions and guides them in accordance with God’s desires.

Prayer: Father, I repent of all the times I chose not to pray because I didn’t have the right words or didn’t know what to pray for. Thank You for reminding me that the Holy Spirit helps me to pray in agreement with Your desires. I will persevere in prayer so that Your will can be carried out in my life and the lives of others. In Jesus’s name, I pray.