Daily Devotion

“Prayer is not about demanding that God do things our way, but about discovering God's will under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and asking Him to give us the strength to contribute our small share to that great plan.”

Frederick William Baller · China Mainland Association Monthly

Scripture

Romans 8:26-27 Similarly, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groans. And he who searches hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people according to the will of God.

Reflection

We often mistake prayer for presenting a "wish list" to God, attempting to sway His hand with our own will. However, scripture reminds us that the real obstacle lies in our "weakness" and "lack of knowledge." The sighs of the Holy Spirit are not meant to fulfill our selfish desires, but to align our souls with the Father's great plan. This "alignment" is not a deprivation of autonomy, but rather receiving heavenly power to transcend difficulties in the process of discovering God's will. When we willingly contribute our "small share" to His plan, our ordinary lives, through the participation of the Holy Spirit, acquire eternal weight and fragrance.