Dec. 31, 2012

In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit itself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. The one who searches hearts knows how the how the Spirit thinks, because it pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will. – Romans 8:26-27

Happy New Year!  One comment made to me several times this past week is, “I can’t wait for this year to be over. 2013 has to be better!”

The truth of the matter is for some people, 2013 will be better. For others, it may be more challenging. I try not to think in terms of “better” or “worse” years. I prefer to remember Who journeys with me every year, month, week, day and even hour … whether I remember this every minute or not.

This passage from Romans is especially meaningful for me. Sometimes, I just feel dry and burned out. I’m not sure what to say to God. When I read these words from Romans, I’m reminded that in those moments, I don’t have to have the “right” words to say. Thank goodness, the Spirit comes in and prays for me. Wow. Do you understand this? We have a Holy Spirit that is so in-tune with our needs the Spirit will speak on our behalf to God. What an absolutely humbling thought. The Spirit does this because the Spirit wants to; not because it has to. The Spirit doesn’t moan or whine about it. The Spirit just does it. Unbelievable!

This is what I think we need to hear with a New Year. This news is far more important than what resolutions I’ll try to keep and probably quickly break. I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to seek the Spirit. This is something I pray I can do all year long.

Lord God – For those who have had a challenging year, thank you for being present with us. We can’t completely express how we appreciate the Spirit’s intervention when we couldn’t even pray. And in the next year when we are at loss for words to say to you, we thank you in advance for the Spirit’s intervention. This is unconditional love! Thank you over and over. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne