²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Romans 8:26-30

Dear God, I have something that I don’t want to share specifically in this forum, but you know what is on my heart. It needs a lot of concerted prayer. Holy Spirit, you’ve put this on my heart. I’m just not sure what to do with it. You’re calling me to be open to something, but I don’t know what. On the one had, I want to be like Peter right now and just decide something needs to be done and do it (see Matthias in Acts 2). But I don’t want to get ahead of you like I think Peter did (my personal opinion is that Paul was the intended replacement for Judas and Peter jumped the gun). I feel like you’re telling me that there is a need here, but this is a moment to be prayerful and watchful. I need to pray about what to do and then listen carefully for your timing to act on it.

As I look at these verses today, I’m reminded of the Holy Spirit’s role in my life. Counselor. Comforter. Healer. Intercessor. He is your presence in me and around me. He is you, Father, and you, Jesus, with me. The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus said he would send after his ascension into heaven. Holy Spirit, you are praying for me above my ignorance. You groan for me and my situations. You are pleading for me in harmony with the Father’s will. And even when things look bad, I trust that the Father’s will is that the world would move into complete harmony with himself. This might not happen in my lifetime. I measure things in days, weeks, and months, while the Father measures time in years, decades, and centuries. So I am ignorant and don’t know for what I should pray, but I trust that the Holy Spirit is taking my prayers and guiding them into your perfect will.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Guide me. Give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. Give me discernment. Give me your vision for what you want me to do. Keep me from foolish impetuousness, but also don’t let me allow fear or reluctance to drive me into inaction. Make my path straight and hold my hand as I walk it.

I pray all of this under your authority and submitted to you,

Amen