The Spirit intercedes
The devotions for this week are featured in LCA International Mission’s 2025 ‘Pentecost Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners from around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray during Pentecost for the connections and ministries of our international partners. As we mark 50 days after Easter, may this guide encourage you to reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life and how you can respond to God’s love. An electronic copy of the full devotional is available to download at the LCA International Mission website. Please email lcaim@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317 to request a printed copy.
by Merryn Ruwoldt
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The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).
Read Romans 8:18–30
When my children were younger, there were times when I found myself interceding on their behalf. Often, this occurred in circumstances where they lacked the maturity, capacity or self-knowledge to articulate for themselves what was in their best interest. Sometimes, as their mother who loves them, I was able to communicate their deep needs better than they could.
Whereas we are limited to using words to intercede for those we know and love, today’s text tells us that the Spirit intercedes with ‘groanings too deep for words’. It is an expression of pleading, which is more intimate than human words can express or apprehend.
The same Spirit who dwells within us knows us fully and intercedes on our behalf. He is also fully conversant with the heart and mind of God because he is God. Despite our limitations, pride, selfishness and blind spots, we can be certain that as the Spirit intercedes, his intercessions are completely received by God and in tune with God himself.
While our prayers are constrained by the way we curve in on ourselves due to our sinful state, the Spirit attends to our weaknesses. He transforms them in line with the will of God, who works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We are assured that the Spirit, who knows us better than we know ourselves, strengthens and takes up our pleas with a passionate intimacy that is beyond human words.
There were no doubt times when my intercessions on behalf of my children were misguided. Fortunately, the Spirit doesn’t make such mistakes. We can pray in confidence that the Spirit intercedes in truth, wisdom and in line with the mind and heart of God.
What deep things of the heart are you struggling to find words to express to God? Let the Spirit intercede on your behalf.
Pray for Australian Lutheran College. Thank God for its support of the teaching of Lutheran theology among the LCA International Mission partners.
Dr Merryn Ruwoldt is the Academic Dean at Australian Lutheran College.
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