Stewards of Prayer

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:18-27 KJV)

As stewards we have both the privilege and the responsibility to pray for others and for ourselves. Prayer is not a gift to be taken lightly or used irreverently, says stewardship writer Luther E. Lovejoy (1864-1936).

The power of prayer is a most sobering responsibility. It is a stewardship for which we must render a strict account. We may not handle lightly this grave trust, as innocent children handle sharp-edged tools, or careless workman high explosives!.For to the Christian disciple is given the duty not only to pray, and to pray for worth-while objects, to pray for fellow men, but to prevail in prayer. 'Render an account of your stewardship' is as applicable to prayer as to money or time. What have you done with the power of prayer? It was given you as spiritual capital, with which to achieve, to produce, to create.

And we have a powerful helper in the Holy Spirit. Pastor and devotional writer E.M. Bounds (1835-1913) expounds on the Holy Spirit's role of intercession, as discussed in Romans 8.

This text is most pregnant and vital, and needs to be quoted. Patience, hope, and waiting help us in prayer. But the greatest and the most divine of all helpers is the Holy Spirit. He takes hold of things for us. We are dark and confused, ignorant and weak in many things, in fact in everything pertaining to the Heavenly life, especially in the simple service of prayer. There is an 'ought' on us, an obligation, a necessity to pray, a spiritual necessity upon us of the most absolute and imperative kind. But we do not feel the obligation and have no ability to meet it. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, gives wisdom in our ignorance, turns ignorance into wisdom, and changes our weakness into strength. The Spirit himself does this. He helps and takes hold with us as we tug and toil. He adds his wisdom to our ignorance, gives his strength to our weakness. He pleads for us and in us. He quickens, illumines, and inspires our prayers. He invites and elevates the matter of our prayers, and inspires the words and feelings of our prayers. He works mightily in us so that we can pray mightily. He enables us to pray always and ever according to the will of God!

The Spirit, when he prays through us, or helps us to meet the mighty 'oughtness' of right praying, trims our praying down to the will of God, and then we give heart and expression to his unutterable groanings. Then we have the mind of Christ, and pray as he would pray. His thoughts, purposes, and desires are our desires, purposes, and thoughts!It is the unfolding of the word by the Spirit's light, guidance, teaching enabling us to perform the great office of intercessors on earth, in harmony with the great intercessions of Jesus Christ at the Father's right hand in Heaven.