I love single moms.

I have been a single mom.

I feel called to remind single mothers that although their family status may have changed, they STILL matter.  I learn all manner of lessons from these courageous women.

Just the other week, while sitting in worship, I had a moment of pure joy.  My family sat with a friend and her 9-year-old son.  Ordinarily he is in bible class, but this particular day he joined her in service.  I’m so glad he did…and I couldn’t have possibly imagined what God would teach me through him.

Our pastor offered a special time of prayer for single parents, and as you’d expect-my friend went forward.  She returned to her seat in tears of joy after receiving the blessing offered.  It wasn’t long before her son buried his head in her arm and wept, too.

A sweet picture of innocence.  During a time of prayer that followed, my heart melted even more (I didn’t know it was possible).  The soft voice of my friend’s son began following every sentence the preacher spoke with a “yes, Lord” or “amen.”

I can’t even repeat one line from that prayer because I was so taken with this sweet boy’s heart.  A sweet aroma.  I’m not saying this young boy was spiritually adept with his words, or that he was responding at times that would make sense to anyone listening, but I’m positive it made sense to heaven…

Scripture assures us that even our groans can be understood…

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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 8:18-27.

Sometimes, my mouth doesn’t know what or how to pray, but scripture reveals…

• The Christian’s possession of the Holy Spirit is not only evidence of his present salvation but is also a pledge of his future inheritance-and not only a pledge but also the down payment on that inheritance
• Hope sustains the believer in suffering, so the Holy Spirit helps him in prayer

Paul reiterates a similar thought in Ephesians 6:18 when he says, “And pray in the Spirit, on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…”

WE express our DEPENDENCE on God through prayer. We surrender our attempts to control our lives when we humble ourselves in prayer.

Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit…”  Let that rest on you for a minute.  That’s HUGE…the intimacy of His spirit testifying with our spirit.  It means we are hidden in Him…protected by Him…understood by our Creator!

So it boils down to this…

• Prayer is essential
• If we have accepted Jesus, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit
• Despite our present suffering, we have a future inheritance
• His Spirit testifies with our spirit in prayer
• Surrender is required

He will make sense of our groanings—that’s exactly the picture He gave me as my friend’s son cried out with “yes, Lord” and “amen.”  Even if it doesn’t seem like we’re saying things in the right order, at the right time, with the right words…if we have the hope of glory, being sealed by the Spirit at the time we accepted/confessed Jesus as Lord of our life, our prayers will make sense to our Creator.

I challenge you to refute the lies of the enemy—the ones that keep you from praying for fear that you’ll sound silly, or that you won’t say the “right” thing.

Worship Him through your offering of prayer.

Psalm 50:14 says, “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

This is our invitation to surrender to Him.  Maybe there is something you’ve not taken to Him out of shame or guilt… something you’ve been avoiding… an area where you need healing. Offer this to Him in prayer as a thank offering.

His spirit testifies with our spirit…now that’s a hope worth holding on to!!