Inadequate

As the Lord has been working with me in the area of prayer one thing has become crystal clear.  I am a whole lot worse at this than I thought.  Inadequate does not really seem to capture the depth of my inability.

I have looked at the prayers of Paul, even started to do things that noted Christian scholars and authors have written about in their books before I read them.  That was encouraging.  But, it seems mechanical and heartless as I work through praying what Paul prayed.

I got a copy of Operation World and it has been useful as I attempt to pray for the countries in which the Lord has allowed me to work… but 978 pages of prayer requests in fine print, is just – well there are no words…

The state of the Church and the needs of its people are crushing.  It feels futile…  It feels hopeless…  I wonder how in the world my feeble prayer can possibly make a dent.

Then I read Proverbs 15:8 – 9 again and am reminded that God is pleased with the effort.  I can’t understand why – it is so pitiful.  Then I am reminded that I am not alone in this battle.  I am pulled to Romans 8:26 – 27.  God’s overwhelming grace through the ministry of the Spirit amplifies, clarifies, and corrects my inadequacy; turning my halting efforts into an intercession according to the will of God.

My inadequacy is known.  It is embraced.  It is enfolded in the Spirit’s groanings.  It is known that I am hopelessly inadequate.  It is in that inadequacy that God’s grace, His majesty, and His sovereign adequacy is manifested and perfected.  I am undone in His presence.

I am inadequate.  He is not.  I will keep on trying.