We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on July 23, 2014.
Prayer: Hear us, O Lord, when know not what to pray. Amen. Reading: Romans 8:26-39 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: There is so much good material in this passage that I could probably write for a week. But, since this is just a simple first light devotion, I think I’ll comment on just the first 2 verses. What a lovely, comforting thought: For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Sighs to deep for words. Imagine that. I know, it is so intuitive it is hard to comprehend. But then, maybe we don’t really need to understand, just experience it. We don’t have to have the perfect words, we just need to have the sense of need or praise or thanksgiving. The Spirit takes it from there. I’ve done a lot of work in my time as Chaplain to the Staff helping the staff offer prayers at meals, worship and GROW times. It is important that when we pray in public that we make some sort of sense. But, in the end, properly constructed sentences with rolling phrases just aren’t that important. The Spirit gathers up our stammering and intercedes for us and God knows. Sighs too deep for words, indeed. --Jim Bricker
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