Clear Communication/沟通无碍

[Dexu Xia]

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. Romans 8:26

While traveling in Asia, my iPad (containing my reading material and many work documents) suddenly died, a condition described as “the black screen of death.” Seeking help, I found a computer shop and encountered another problem—I don’t speak Chinese and the shop’s technician didn’t speak English. The solution? He pulled up a software program in which he typed in Chinese, but I could read it in English. The process reversed as I responded in English and he read in Chinese. The software allowed us to communicate clearly, even in different languages.

At times, I feel like I’m unable to communicate and express my heart when I pray to my heavenly Father—and I’m not alone. Many of us struggle sometimes with prayer. But the apostle Paul wrote, “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).

How amazing is the gift of the Holy Spirit! Better than any computer program, He clearly communicates my thoughts and desires in harmony with the Father’s purposes. The work of the Spirit makes prayer work!

Reflect & Pray

What challenges have you experienced in your prayer life? How can you lean on the Holy Spirit as you seek to pray more passionately to God?

Father, I thank You for the gift of Your Spirit and the privilege of prayer. Help me to lean on Your Spirit in moments when I don’t know how to pray.

沟通无碍

我们的软弱有圣灵帮助，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。-罗马书8章26节

我通常将阅读资料及工作文件存在平板电脑。一次当我在亚洲出差时，平板电脑却突然无法操作，就是人们所说的“死机黑屏”。我好不容易找到一间卖电脑的商店，却遇上另一个麻烦，那就是我对中文一窍不通，而维修人员不会讲英语。怎么办呢？没想到，他竟找到一个软体，当他键入中文，我却能读到英文；当我键入英文，他却能读到中文。这个软体，让我们双方就算语言不通，仍沟通无碍。

有时候，当我向天父祷告时，也会觉得很难沟通，无法将自己的心意完全表达出来。相信许多人也和我一样，有时不知要如何向上帝倾心吐意。但使徒保罗写道：“我们的软弱有圣灵帮助，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈求。”（罗马书8章26-27节）

上帝赐给我们的圣灵真是奇妙，甚至远胜于任何一种电脑软体。祂能清楚地传达我的想法与渴望，以配合天父的旨意。圣灵的工作让祷告满有果效！

天父，感谢祢赐下圣灵和祷告的权柄。
当我不知如何向祢祷告的时候，
求祢帮助我能倚靠圣灵的帮助。

你的祷告生活曾面对何种挑战？
你如何倚靠圣灵更热切地向上帝祷告呢？