“Ba” is my grandson’s multipurpose word. He uses it for names and words he knows but cannot yet say. His mom understands most of his cues because she sees him in their personal context. She knows what he knows and can quickly translate. Did you know that the Spirit of God intercedes for us in the very same way?
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”
Romans 8:26-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26-27.NLT
And not only the Spirit of God but the Son as well.
“Who then will condemn us?
No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Romans 8:34 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.34.NLT
“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him.
He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.
He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.”
Hebrews 7:24-26 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.7.24-26.NLT
There are certainly times when I need a multipurpose word to pray. We are commanded to pray at all times and in all circumstances. We should pray not only for those nearest and dearest to us but we must pray for our enemies, those who persecute us, (Matthew 5:44) and for those in authority. (I Timothy 2:2) In those times, I am thankful that God sees my heart because my thoughts, words, and actions often hark back to my original nature, having been born into sin from before my first breath. My new nature as a new creation in Christ is gradually overtaking my sin nature as I abide in Him and surrender to His leading, but I will not be perfected this side of heaven. (II Corinthians 5:17, John 15:5)
Obedience to Christ’s commands is a deliberate choice for me, one that brings joy and a very great reward, (Genesis 15:1) but which requires effort and determination. Obedience also requires strength from the indwelling Spirit. I must set my face toward my heavenly home in the same way Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, (Luke 9:51) knowing death awaited Him but that death would shortly be swallowed up by eternal life.
I am commanded to pray and God’s Word is clear about how I should begin.
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.2.1-3.NLT
““When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.
Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do.
They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:5-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.5-13.NLT
Let the Spirit speak. Let God’s Word be your guide. When you don’t know what to pray and when you feel like you’ve exhausted your words on a certain subject, be persistent, like the widow in Jesus’s story.
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
Then the Lord said,
“Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
Even he rendered a just decision in the end.
So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?
Will he keep putting them off?
I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!
But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?””
Luke 18:1-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.1-8.NLT
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
And pray for me, too.
Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike,” for all who will believe and accept Him. (John 1:12)
I am not in chains as Paul was when he wrote to the Christians in Ephesus but like Paul, I am “still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”
Ephesians 6:18-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.18-20.NLT
I am praying for you. I ask God to move beyond your eyes and ears, beyond your mind to your heart as you read His Word. I pray that you will draw near to God and that His Word would accomplish His purpose in you. And I pray that whether or not we meet this side of heaven, that we would one day meet as part of the vast crowd before God’s throne from every nation, tribe, people, and language praising God for all eternity.
“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.
They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
They sang,
“Amen!
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever!
Amen.””
Revelation 7:9-10, 12 NLT
A Fitting Reply 
Beautiful message, LeAnn. Love you
LikeLiked by 1 person