"With groanings too deep for words"

Today it really hit me that I have once again let my mind stray from God. I have been focusing on things of the flesh. Well, that won't do. It says plainly in Romans 8, that those who live by the flesh, die by it: 

For if you live according to the flesh you will die... (Romans 8:13a).

But the verse also goes on: 

...but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13b).

It seems so ridiculously plain, and yet, it is so hard to live by. But those who are Christians are also drawn to that which is of the Spirit. There is a deep longing in the soul to remember that God is our Father, and He sincerely loves us. He has adopted us as sons and daughters, and in that, He has given us hope:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:14-17).

He loves us enough to make us heirs in His kingdom. Think about that. Heirs to the Kingdom of God. That is amazing. How can we even fathom it? 

Because He loves us this much, He gave us the Holy Spirit. And I'm so glad He did. Often enough, I desire what I want to desire, going back to the fleshly living. I pray for the things that I want, not what is most glorifying to Him. Thus: 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26). 

That is something else to think about: "groanings too deep for words." As an English major, words are very important to me. I can almost always find a word to describe something. But this--this groaning--is too deep for words. Too deep. The note in my Bible says: 

"The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our state of weakness, of which we are constantly conscious. Perplexity as to how to pray for oneself is a universal Christian experience. Our inarticulate longings to pray properly are an indication to us that indwelling Spirit is already helping us by interceding for us in our hearts, making requests that the Father will certainly answer" (The Reformation Study Bible).

It is something to think about. The Holy Spirit is there, taking our "inarticulate longings," and making them requests to the Father with "groanings too deep for words." Look at that. He takes the longings of the deepest regions of our souls and makes them known to God, especially when our flesh takes over. 

We are adopted as heirs to the Kingdom of God, blessed with the reminder that those who live of the Spirit will surely live, and the Holy Spirit, dwelling in us, takes up our deepest desires to the One who matters most. 

How great is our God? More than we can fathom, I'm sure. 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).