Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

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

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

• 2 Timothy 1:7

The Boilerplate

My wife took a Bible Study in 2009.  She had become a Christian in 2000, and about the time that she took this class during the week at night, she developed night blindness, or at least the start of it.  I would drive her to a friend’s house, and then the friend would drive her home afterwards.  The focus on the Bible Study was weight loss from a biblical perspective.  I don’t know if any weight was lost by anyone in the Bible Study, but a few members of that group became very good friends.

My wife passed away in March and I found her study guide as I was cleaning up.  I actually found two study guides.  The other study guide was from a Bible study long before committing herself to Jesus.  Her answers were usually copying Scripture or turning the Scripture into her own words.  This Bible Study in 2009 showed signs of how God was working in her life.  It showed Christian growth.

So, instead of writing about a topic at random, I decided to write on the topics in the Study Guide, but instead of using the words of the Study Guide, I thought I would fashion the answers of her questions into a thread to discuss the topic.  And I will not use any comment about other members of the group study (few, and usually prayer requests).  That would be confidential.  Thus, I am writing about these topics “with a little help” from my wife’s answers to study guide questions.

“I’m able to stand up and seek God and God’s will for me – I don’t have to please others anymore.  The Spirit has given me that strength.  He helps us in our weakness.  The Holy Spirit will intercede for you.”

• My wife’s ideas about the first Scripture above

I know.  This was the quote near the end of last week’s part of this series but she had more to say about this Scripture.

When you consider the method that the Holy Spirit uses to express what we cannot express, or to correct what we have said in our prayers, what kind of prayer should we pray?

“A Simple prayer is all you need.  Just communicate with God.  He loves to hear from you.”

• My wife’s additional ideas about the first Scripture above

My wife was a great communicator.  Sure, she loved to talk, but she loved to listen.  It was the greatest sin that she could think of to cut off communications, and we had family members that loved doing that.

But God is our Heavenly Father.  Cutting off communication with God is indeed the greatest offense.

Our younger son heard a sermon by a liberal preacher and he refused to pray.  He might pray wrong.  He overcame this fear of praying by accepting Jesus, but that was years later.  But in these two verses above, the Holy Spirit groans, communicating what there may not even be words for.  We pray for a Mercedes Benz, like the old Janis Joplin song, and the Holy Spirit tells our Heavenly father, in His groaning, that we are concerned about transportation.  It is not what we said.  The Holy Spirit though knew our basic need.

“He didn’t give us timidity but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline”

• My wife’s ideas about the second Scripture above

My wife was timid in some areas, but not many.  She is one of those types of people who never met a stranger.  She tried to go up to a leper and touch him when she was very little, about the time most children learn stranger danger.  She had love in abundance.  Like all of us, she struggled with the self-discipline, but even then, she was very strong in some areas.

What gave her this strength?

“By knowing I’ve got the strength because I’ve got the Holy Spirit and Jesus to strengthen me when I’m down.”

• My wife’s inner thoughts

And when we get “down?”

“We can call on the Holy Spirit to give us courage and strength.  And know through the Word that we can overcome anything.”

• My wife’s inner thoughts

The Holy Spirit also lets us know when we falter.  At times, according to my wife, He does so in a kind way.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory