Day 11: A Helper When You Don’t Know What to Pray

Let’s take a moment today to be with God. If you want to do this as a family, we encourage you to set aside time after your own quiet time to go through the family content at the bottom together.

PAUSE

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”—Romans 8:26–27 (NIV)

Have you ever had someone in your life so close to you that you can finish each other’s sentences? That person can advocate for you and help you express what’s hard to put into words. This is the type of relationship we have with the Holy Spirit, but on a far deeper level. He knows our thoughts, our feelings, and intercedes on our behalf when we can't even articulate what we need. Not only does He know us, but He knows the mind of God, revealing to us the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10–12).

PONDER

Today, instead of thinking about what you need to pray for, invite the Holy Spirit to help you. Take a moment to sit quietly and let Him speak to God for you.

PRAY

Holy Spirit, I ask You to intercede for me before the Father in areas I can’t see or understand. Be my advocate and messenger. Lead me into truth and reveal to me what comes from the Father. Amen.

After you pray these words, sit for 10-15 minutes in silence, without distraction, and let the Spirit move, guide, lead, and speak.

For Your Family

PAUSE

Read Romans 8:26–27 out loud with your kids. Whether you go on a walk, talk in the car, discuss at dinner, or gather before bed, choose a time in your day to discuss and pray together.

PONDER

Share the main idea with them.

• The Holy Spirit prays for us, too.

Ask them:

• How does it make you feel that the Holy Spirit prays for you?

PRAY

Guide your children to pray using these prayer points.

• Thank the Holy Spirit for praying for you when you don’t know what to pray.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you more truth about God.
• Pray for your friends and family to become part of God's family and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pray this over your children:

Holy Spirit, thank You for talking to God about us when we might not know what to say. I pray they’ll trust You to be their messenger, their friend, their guide, and to always be with them. Lead them into God’s truth and love. Amen.