“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
When things can’t be formed into words, we can take confidence that even the groaning of our heart is understood by the Lord. I take confident that I have Jesus as my great high priest and that He is interceding for me the prayers that are beyond what I think I want or above all needs. We think of Jesus as a baby, Jesus who is coming back, but Jesus right now is praying for us! When I get to seasons in my life where it feels like my prayers become sighs or groans, I get to a place of brokenness where I begin to walk by faith and not by sight.
With brokenness I’m reminded of humility before God; that sweet humility that reveals the power of God that is at work and not human effort. This season in thinking of Christmas as a time to reflect on the grand entrance of our savior... a savior who came in absolute humility! It isn’t necessarily a grand entrance to our human measure to think of a king entering not in mansion, but in a manger, and as a baby… the most humble dependent state of being. It’s a day where we don’t only remember His birth, but His life and His death… and the purpose for His life- the only being who came with the purpose of dying.
We read Hebrews 12:2. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“I asked, “What, or who, was this ‘joy’ that was set before Jesus?” This ‘joy’ must be important because it helped him endure the cross and the shame and pain he would go through. Of course, pleasing the Father was his joy but there’s so much more. We are his joy, also! Jesus knew that his finished works on the cross and his resurrection would create the possibility for mankind to be reconciled back into eternal relationship with the Father. The possibility of this brought him so much joy that he was willing to lay down his life to save ours. Consider this – we are worth the life of His Son!” (Weekly Ministry Report from “Christians in Action”).
I hope you all had a blessed Christ-filled Christmas and got to spend time remembering why we celebrate this day! :)
