Alexa, Siri, and other voice assistants embedded in smart devices in our homes occasionally misunderstand what we’re saying. A six-year-old talked to her family’s new device about cookies and a dollhouse. Later her mom received an email saying that an order of seven pounds of cookies and a $170 dollhouse were on their way to her home. Even a talking parrot in London, whose owner had never bought anything online, somehow ordered a package of golden gift boxes without her knowledge. One person asked their device to “turn on the living room lights,” and it replied, “There is no pudding room.”
There’s no such misunderstanding on God’s part when we talk with Him. He’s never confused, because He knows our hearts better than we do. The Spirit both searches our hearts and understands God’s will. The apostle Paul told the churches in Rome that God promises He’ll accomplish His good purpose of maturing us and making us more like His Son (Romans 8:28–29). Even when because of “our weakness” we don’t know what we need in order to grow, the Spirit prays according to God’s will for us (vv. 26–27).
Troubled about how to express yourself to God? Not understanding what or how to pray? Say what you can from the heart. The Spirit will understand and accomplish God’s purpose.
By Anne Cetas
REFLECT & PRAY
What’s on your mind right now that you should share with God? How are you encouraged by the truth that He knows and understands what you’re facing?
Thank You, God, that You know my heart. I love You for that and many other reasons. Help me to express my thoughts to You and to trust You to understand.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul to the believers in Christ in Rome most likely during his third missionary journey (around ad 57). He wrote this letter while in Corinth for a short while before heading to Jerusalem to deliver the offerings gathered by the churches of Asia to help the needy church in Jerusalem. Paul hadn’t planted the church in Rome, nor had he ever met its members, but he’d heard of their faith, which was “being reported all over the world” (Romans 1:8). Therefore, Paul longed to visit to encourage and help make them strong in their faith (v. 11). Thus we have this wonderful explanation of the gospel: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (v. 16).
Alyson Kieda
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