A Life in Exile

I’ve been studying the Trinity along with the ladies in my life group at church this summer, and a recent session was on prayer. There was so much encouragement in that lesson, especially as we thought about the fact that both the Son and the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf. I love this verse from the book of Hebrews:

Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25 CSB)

The thought that the Son lives to intercede for us is overwhelming, and we also have the Spirit who intercedes when we don’t know what or how to pray.

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

It’s amazing to think that the job of two-thirds of the Trinity is to intercede for us! When I think of my life and prayer life, I am grateful for the help. There are so many times I fumble the ball, not knowing how to pray or failing to pray when I know I should. I’m grateful beyond words to have the Son and Spirit on my prayer team!

Praying the Word

We also have another great comfort to help us in prayer—the Word of God. In these last few days and weeks—and honestly, throughout my life—there are times when it’s hard to know what to pray. The world seems dark, friends are hurting and facing loss, and people are dying every minute without the rope of Christ’s redemption to save them. It is in these moments when my own words fail or seem too feeble to voice before the Lord. How can I even know his will in this moment and pray accordingly?

This is where his Word comes in. I remember in the moments of the 9/11 atrocity, I was living in another country, seeing everything change in an instant. What could I pray? How could I pray? He turned my heart to Psalm 12, which ends with these two verses:

You, Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever. The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race. (Psalm 12:7-8)

I put the date of 9/11/2001 and the name of Osama bin Laden in my Bible. Yes, right there on that last verse, I put his name. I could not find the words to pray in that moment, but I knew words had already been voiced on my behalf. I sought the Lord’s protection for our people while acknowledging the wicked were all around us. Ten years later I added another date and word to that verse—5/1/11 killed.

The enemies of God will meet their just reward. In my grief of the moment, I didn’t know what that looked like or when it would be done. My job was to trust the Word of God and speak it back to him, including the fifth verse of that same psalm.

“Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.” (Psalm 12:5)

Praying in ALL CAPS

While I might use the words of Paul or Peter to pray for fellow believers words of blessing and encouragement, I find the Psalms are not only good for blessing but also perfect in expressing pain and grief. Many are taken aback by David’s free expressions of anger, sadness, grief, and even despair in the Psalms. I am so thankful for them, because they are reminders that we can come to the Father with all our emotions. He hears and responds, comforts and disciplines.

In recent days when my heart ached over trials near and far, I found encouragement to not only pray the words of Scripture but to put them in ALL CAPS. For instance, take these verses from Psalm 94.

I do not want to forget to simply capitalize the pain, but to capitalize the promises. When we let out our pain and hurt to the Lord, he is faithful to hear and restore us to rest and calm. It may appear disrespectful to cry out in such a way to the Lord, but we must remember that in contrast to his voice that is powerful, majestic, can break the cedars of Lebanon into pieces, and melt the earth, ours are but tingling brass and clashing symbols. He would rather hear our cries and anger than have us turn them inward and let them fester in bitterness and despair.

In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

Psalm 120:1

Call to the Lord, use his Word when no words come to mind. Let them come out in ALL CAPS. Get them out to the One who answers because he loves you.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on prayer: Maintaining Power, Let Not Your Heart Be Hardened, and Ceaseless Prayer.