Our God

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? GOD doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. 

He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. 

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. Isaiah 40:28-31 The Message

What does this scripture tell us about God? He is always there. He is stable. He is consistent. He is enough. He knows everything about you. He knows everything about me. He gives us everything we need to keep going when we think we can't. He doesn't give up on us. When we want to sink, He helps us soar. That is our God.

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. Hebrews 13:15 AMP

He is so worthy of our praise. Today. With whatever is troubling your heart, He is worthy of our praise. With whatever is giving you joy, He is worthy of our praise. With whatever happened yesterday, He is worthy of our praise. With whatever is coming in your day, He is worthy of our praise.

We are not isolated from God, our Heavenly Father. God made a way for us to reconciled to Him, to commune with Him, through Jesus. 

But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned into the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message. Colossians 1:22-23 The Message

So today, let's not walk away from this gift we have been given. Let's walk towards Him. Let's be in awe of Who He is. Let's call on Him for strength when we need it. Let's dare to dream that He can and He will........

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] - To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP

 

 

Look what God has done

I look up to the mountains; 

does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from GOD, 

who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

Psalm 121:1-2 The Message

A few thoughts today about Who God is, the maker of heaven and earth. Let's take some time to wonder at His majesty and what He did for us ...

Come, let's shout praises to GOD, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

And why? Because GOD is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean - he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth!

So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before GOD, who made us! Oh yes, he's our God, and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds. Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks. Psalm 95:1-7 The Message

The mighty God that created all we see around us, made us too, as David reminds us in Psalm 139

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 
Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

And what's more, He thinks about us, precious thoughts, and He is always with us.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:17 NLT

He made a way for us, despite all our failings and mistakes, to be in relationship with Him, and have the promise of living eternally in that beautiful heaven He created.

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. John 3:16 The Message

A truth which takes me right back to Psalm 95:1 -2 ....

 
Come, let's shout praises to GOD, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

So today, let's take some time out to stop and look at what God has done and shout out praise to Him.


May you be blessed by GOD, by GOD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 115:15 The Message

Choosing His ways

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23a The Message

Over the past couple of days we have been reminded again of how living God's way is always the best choice we can make. As Ken and I have had the opportunity to talk to people about our journey with Victoria there have been questions like, 'where does your strength come from?' and 'how can you be so positive?' For us there is only one answer - our faith. Our faith in a God who loves us, gives us strength and provides all our needs. A God who gives us hope each day. A God that we have seen work things together for good in our lives, even when our faith has wavered.

This scripture above so well describes all that God continues to do in us as we chose to live His way .... Affection for others when you don't think circumstances will ever allow that again. An exuberance about life, sometimes small, sometimes great, regardless of what is going on. It is an exuberance birthed out of faith and hope. A serenity that allows you to sleep at night when almost everything in your life is seemingly falling apart - but really it is being broken only to be re-built to enable you to see life more and more through God's eyes. A willingness to not give up, but to stick with what God has given you and wait and see what He will do.

But me, I'm not giving up.

I'm sticking around to see what God will do.

I'm waiting for God to make things right.

I'm counting on God to listen to me.

Micah 7:7 The Message

As we experience pain for a variety of reasons we have grown both in compassion for others and our desire to help as God leads us. We see that people are hurting and in turn hurt. We ask God what we can do to help. All these things happen when we choose to live God's way. 

We have an opportunity every day as we read God's word to learn more and more about how to live His way. 

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Message

Putting it down in black and white, God clearly shows us the choices He wants us to make. We have free will. It is up to us to choose His ways, and they are not always the easy ways, but they are always the best ways.

Question for today, is there an area in your life in which you are struggling to choose to follow God's ways? Why not ask Him right now to help you, to show you why this is a struggle, and what you need to do to move forward. 

Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. Colossians 1:9 The Message

Do I really believe this?

God's word is full of so many promises for you and me. It is full of statements of Who God is and what He has done and what He will do. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to fully believe all that is written in His word. 

Today the Holy Spirit has led me to a passage in Psalm 145, with the gentle challenge of reading each verse and asking myself, do I really believe this about God? Do I really believe theses truths for my life?

I invite you to join me in this challenge and if we read a verse that we can't honestly say, 'Yes I believe this,' let's ask God to help us believe. There is no condemnation in asking for God's help, He wants our foundations in Him to be firm and true.

Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;

you never get voted out of office.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

God always does what he says,

and is gracious in everything he does.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

God gives a hand to those down on their luck,

gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

All eyes are on you, expectant;

you give them their meals on time.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

Generous to a fault,

you lavish your favor on all creatures.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

Everything God does is right—

the trademark on all his works is love.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

God's there, listening for all who pray,

for all who pray and mean it.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

He does what's best for those who fear him—

hears them call out, and saves them.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

God sticks by all who love him,

but it's all over for those who don't.

Yes I believe this OR I need help to truly believe this God.

My mouth is filled with God's praise.

Let everything living bless him,

bless his holy name from now to eternity!

Psalms 145:13-21 The Message

We have a gracious Heavenly Father, who wants us to be in relationship with Him, talk to Him daily, worship Him in all we do and love the people He has put in our lives. To do all those things well, we need to know Him, know what we believe about Him and know that He is faithful and trustworthy.

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMP

The Source

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. 1 Corinthians 8:6 AMP

When Ken and I got married there was one income earner - me. It pretty much remained that way for the first five years of our marriage, until by the grace of God I became pregnant. Very quickly it became obvious that there was going to have to be some changes! What an interesting, unforgettable time that was.

Out of that time though, I learnt two very important lessons. Firstly God is always on time, never early, never late. A few weeks after Marshall was born and we were left with only one weeks savings, Ken had a business idea. A business idea that is still providing for us 13 years later! Wonder where that idea came from?

This leads to me the second important thing I learnt during that time, that God is the Source our income. Ken is not. He is a vessel that God can use, if Ken is willing and obedient (as is the same for each of us.) 

This revelation has meant that many times over the years when I have been frustrated about our finances, the first place I have gone to talk about it hasn't  been Ken, but rather God. After all, He is the Source, and it is always better to go directly to the Source. 

Sometimes after my chat with God, I will talk with Ken about our finances. But most of the time though, after the conversation with God, I come back to a place of trusting that He is on the job. He shows me that it was fear rising up in me and that no conversation with Ken is necessary. 

What a lot of arguments have been avoided since getting the revelation that God is my Source. Of course I am not perfect, fear does still come sometimes and there are arguments, but not as many as there were.

Over the recent years I have come to understand more and more that God is the only Source that really meets our emotional needs, as well as our practical needs.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the  Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement) 2 Corinthians 1:3 AMP

And that in Christ, when we are comforted, we can then comfort others ....

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT

So to sum up, I have had some big lessons to help me  understand Who my Source is, and am daily continuing to hand over all my needs and our family's needs to God. Learning to always look to Him in everything.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 AMP

Question for today, who are you looking to as the Source for things in your life? It comes down to a question of trust - who are you trusting to bring good into your life? Who are you trusting to bring the changes that are needed into your life? Today, why not take some time to ask God to help bring you to the place of knowing, really knowing, that He is the Source for everything good in your life.

Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, good will, love and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 AMP

 

He has a plan

Sometimes our lives can look like this photo, filled with things that are seemingly blocking our future. Annoying branches that slow us down as we try to move forward. Clouds that obscure our vision. But as we battle the branches and walk beneath the clouds, we need to always remember God's words ...

I know what I'm doing, I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you home for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me." Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Message

He is always there. Even if He only appears to be a glimmer in the distance. Again, His word tells us, 

Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. GOD, you God, is with you every step you take." Joshua 1:9 The Message

It is on these days, or in these months and sometimes years that we have to trust that He has a plan, even when we don't understand it.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP

It has been my experience that over time, even though the branches and clouds may still be there, our desire for, and focus on Him grows and grows. The branches and clouds become 'background noise'. God and His majesty take centre stage. And we know, that we know, that we know, He has a plan.

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Question for today, is there something in your life that is causing you to doubt that God has a plan for you, a good plan for you? If yes, I encourage you to take time to read, read and re-read this scripture daily, asking God to help you believe that this is a truth for your life. He loves you and His plan for you is good.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and your will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 AMP

Humble, pray, seek and repent

And my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I'm alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place. Believe me, I've chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. 2 Chronicles 7:14 The Message

Today, let's humble ourselves, pray, seek His presence and turn away from our thoughts, actions and words that don't line up with His heart. 

Today, as we sit on the other side of the world, somewhat removed from terrorist activity, political and economic instability, let's pray for this world. Bobbie Houston in her book, The Sisterhood says,

"I believe that the weapon the church of Jesus Christ must bring to this current global table of unrest and crisis is prayer. It's a weapon that many outside of the faith may never truly understand nor ever appreciate - but regardless of whether they do or don't, prayer is what engages the spiritual realm that is so often at the core and cause of today's problems." (Bobbie Houston, excerpt from Chapter 21 - The Sisterhood)

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 AMP

The Message Bible puts it this way,

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:18 The Message

Throughout today, whenever prompted by the Holy Spirit, let's pray for this world, that we will humble ourselves and seek our Heavenly Father in all we do.

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP

Holy Spirit

[It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me]. Job 33:4 AMP

The Spirit of God.....

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 NIV

.... by His Spirit ....

It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life. John 6:63 AMP

.... The Spirit Who gives life ...

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 AMP

.... The Holy Spirit has been given to us ...

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:14-15 AMP

Question for today, the Holy Spirit - what does He mean to you in your day to day life? How does He impact what you do and how you do it? Let's welcome Him into our day and be led by Him today.

This worship song - Holy Spirit you are welcome here - by Kim Walker Smith is a great way to surrender and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you through the day.

Jesus' prayer for us

Something a bit different today. A passage to meditate on and ask God how it applies to you. It is part of Jesus' prayer to God the Father in John 17. I suggest that as you read this scripture, have a pen and paper near by and write down what God says to you. He loves you and He loves all He created. He wants to see every person reconciled and restored back to Himself, living life abundantly - in Jesus Name.

I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. 

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. 

Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 

And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth. 

Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching. 

That they all may be one [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.

I have given to them the glory and honour which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one; I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognise that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

John 17:14-23 AMP

And one more passage to meditate on ....

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lamp-stand and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognise and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 AMP

Our world needs to see God's light.

Desire for God's word

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 AMP

There are many things we can choose to read today - the latest update on our elections, the news of chaos in so many parts of the world, facebook or other social media posts, or a 'light' read to help us escape the realities of this world. Whatever you choose to read today, I encourage you to read God's word too. It brings us life.

And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God. Luke 4:4 AMP

A few years after I became a Christian my daily bible reading started to become very spasmodic. I certainly wasn't reading my bible every day. I was far from purposeful in reading God's word. I tried various reading plans but was unable to stick to any of them. As I didn't want to be religious about reading the bible every day, so I just let it go. 

And then life changed with Victoria's diagnosis, I was in desperate need of God, and I started to read His word every day. I found comfort, encouragement, understanding, love and much much more in His word. Over recent years that desperation has changed to a wonderful desire. A desire and expectation to  see how God is going to speak to me through His word each day. It really has become what sustains me.

I pray that you don't have to have the sort of wake up call that I needed, to increase your desire for God's word. But my question for today is, where do you honestly think your desire for God's word is at? Is there room for more? If so, why not ask God to give you that desire and show you how to implement that desire in your life?

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favour]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God's set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). Acts 20:32 AMP

Fresh Strength

But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. Isaiah 40:31 The Message

What a beautiful phrase, fresh strength. But you know it is more than a phrase, it is a gift that God is offering to us today. To you. To me.  All we need to do is trust Him.

Oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength. Ephesians 1:19 The Message

Trust that He will provide all we need. Trust that He has a bigger plan and it is good. Trust that He loves us no matter what we do, or don't do. Trust that Jesus did die for us so we could have a daily relationship with our heavenly father now, and eternal life. Trust that Jesus did come so that we could live life to the full. 

I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breath! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 The Message 

Trust that His strength will sustain us no matter what is going on and for as long as it takes to see the manifestation of His power. Keep trusting.

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:11-12 The Message

Question for today, do you need some of God's fresh strength? If yes, take a moment to humble yourself, ask for His strength in you, and receive it. Be expectant that He will give you all you need to get through this day, and to actually thrive in this day.

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from GOD, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. Psalm 121:1-2 The Message

Who do you put your hope in?

For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15 AMP

Today, some scriptures about hope - with the underlying questions - what or who are we putting our hope in?

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Psalm 39:7 AMP

When we are waiting for something, it can be very difficult (an understatement) to keep wholeheartedly putting our hope in God.  Especially as time passes and we are still waiting.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. Psalm 42:5 AMP

Hope in God. How do you do that when all around you looks hopeless? For me, here are just some of the things I have done over the past 5.5 years to keep my hope in God, 

1. Reading God's promises over and over until they are a truth in my heart. 

2. Spending time worshiping God, pouring out my pain and letting His Spirit minister to me.

3. Putting a guard over my mouth and not speaking out the circumstances, rather speaking God's word.

4. Positioning myself (or rather let God position me) with people who speak faith and can 'hold my arms' up in times when I am weary.

5. Keep reminding myself of where my hope is - every-time those negative thoughts come - declaring it our loud ...

For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence. Psalm 71:5 AMP

Question for today, what is your hope in today? Are you having difficulty putting your hope in God? If so, why not ask Him to gently bring you to that place where you can fully hope in Him. Let Him be your guide, take time to listen and obey.

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 AMP

Our weaknesses

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 The Message

There have been many times in my life when I have been tired in the waiting. So tired that I didn't know what to pray. So grateful that other people were standing in the gap for me. And so grateful that God's Spirit was praying exactly what I needed to pray. What peace it brings to know that even when it comes to praying, we don't have to do it alone. Another version puts it this way,

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. 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. Romans 8:26-27 NLT

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Often the world today tells us to hide our weaknesses, don't let anyone see them. But that is not how our God works. No, He wants us to come to Him with our weaknesses. He wants us to acknowledge that we need Him. And why? Because when we say we need God, we are saying we can't do it alone, we need His wisdom, His grace, and we are letting the power of Christ work through us.

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

If we keep trying to do it all ourselves, where is the room for Jesus in our lives? Where is the room for the Holy Spirit's leadings?

Questions for today, what are your weaknesses? Have you given them to God? Are you letting Him bring His grace and wisdom into those areas of your life? Sometimes pride and a lack of trust can stop us talking to God about our weaknesses, which is a bit funny if you think about it, as He knows everything about us anyway. Wherever you are at, today, let's take a step closer to Him in our areas of weakness, and acknowledge our complete need for Him.

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP