Someone is praying for you. It’s not just anybody, like Grandma or your best friend, though their prayers touch heaven too. Aware of your needs, and knowing God’s will for your life, this prayer warrior enters the throne of grace with prayers too deep for words. This person is Holy Spirit, and this is why He’s called the Intercessor. Paul wrote this:
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
When you don’t know what to pray
Sometimes we know what our heart wants, but we also want God’s best in the situation. This can paralyze our prayers because we don’t know what to pray. Other times those prayers don’t flow because the situation is too messy, confusing, or we don’t really know the person. That’s when Holy Spirit comes in. Even our weakness in prayer can be used for good. I love that. If you worry your prayers aren’t strong enough, your worries can blow away like dust, because the Intercessor prays for you all the time. He can tell us what to pray.
Have you experienced prayers flowing from your lips that surprised you? Last week at our small group, I asked my prayer partners to pray for a new Bible study I’m working on. I have second guessed myself about this study, intimidated by this particular book. We bowed our heads and this sweet lady, who I had never met before began to pray for me. During the prayer she said, “Help her know she has all she needs.”
Ya’ll, my spirit did a flip. I knew the Lord had given her those words. When we had finished praying, I thanked her for that specific prayer. Her response made it even sweeter. She shook her head and chuckled, “Oh, well, that wasn’t from me.”
She confirmed it. The Intercessor had given her the words.
how to pray all the time
It seems impossible, but the Bible does tell us to pray all the time. Paul wrote, ” . . . pray continually”(1 Thess. 5:17). He also encouraged the Ephesians to pray “in the spirit” every moment. Some translations say, “on all occasions.” Could this mean to pray whether you’re busy or bored, celebrating or mourning, during ordinary days and high holidays, or morning and night? Yes. I think that covers “all occasions.” Every minute, every breath, driving down the road or making dinner we’re invited to partner with the divine, to petition continually–“all kinds of prayers and requests.”
The only way we can do this is by the presence of the Intercessor who has no problem praying for us 24/7. Ask the Intercessor to bring people to your mind through out your day, and lift them up. If you’re unsure of how to pray, ask Holy Spirit to direct your prayers. You may need to wait on Him. Prayer, as you probably know, cannot be rushed, but we often sprint through our petitions.
pray in the holy spirit
Several scriptures instruct us to “pray in the spirit.” One of those verses is in the short book of Jude:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit . . .
Jude 20
Some may understand this as a prayer language, but I did some digging, and I found something fascinating about that little preposition, “in.” The etymology of this little Greek preposition says, “a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest . . . ” (Blueletterbible.com).
A relation of rest.
A fixed position in place, time, or state.
What would resting in the Spirit’s partnership in prayer look like to you? Could you stop striving to pray the right prayers? Would you be bolder in your ministry to others? Yes and amen.
What does “a fixed position” remind you of? My mind immediately thought of Paul’s promise that we’re seated with Christ in the heavenlies already. My friends, if prayer seems like a struggle, if you’re frustrated by petitions not yet answered, and you feel the Father’s ear can’t hear you, remember to lean on the Holy Spirit. Lock arms and pray with Him already seated beside King Jesus yet somehow still walking this dusty earth. What if the translation of praying “in” the spirit is praying “with” the spirit?
Bible Reading plan on intercessor (31 scriptures)
Join me this month as we read scriptures focusing on this prayer partnership. 31 scriptures will focus us every day on prayer, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.
Download the free printable.
It’s my prayer that this reading plan will strengthen our prayer life and help us rest in the promise and power of the Intercessor. He will give us all we need as we pray at all times, in good and bad moods, with crying babies or sleeping homes, we can pray with the Spirit’s help. And we can trust He is praying for us too right at the throne of grace.
prayer for stronger prayers
Hold my hands.
“Father, you are amazing. You have not missed one detail, one thing we need to live this life fully as a child of the King. Thank you for the Intercessor. Thank you that He’s always praying for us, but we can also partner with Him in prayer for others. Make us bold as we listen for the Spirit of Christ’s wisdom. May His words flow from our lips as we pray for others. Thank you for this gift–the gift of a divine Intercessor continually praying for your kids. We love you. Amen.
study these verses with me every week
Join us on Instagram @wordsbyandylee. Bring your cuppa, Bible, and journal! Normally “Faith Friday” is every Friday at 9:00 AMET. This week it’s going to be on a Wednesday (Oct. 1, 2025). And if that doesn’t work for you, I’ll have the teaching uploaded to my YouTube channel. Hope you can join our community of faith and love. See you soon!
Andy
