Would you Like Help?
If you use Microsoft Word, you are familiar with
little "Paper Clip Guy." Every time I start
writing a letter, up he pops! "It looks like
you're writing a letter. Would you like help?"
The first time I saw it, I thought it was cute.
Now, it's just annoying because I have to stop
and click my mouse to put him back wherever he
stays when I don't need his help! And frankly,
most of the time, I really don't need him. I've
been writing letters a long time, and can pretty
much handle that myself, thank-you-very-much!
But this morning, Paper Clip Guy helped me see
something important! I've recently started a
project that's bigger than me. I'm excited about
it, but I'm also a little bit scared (well,
actually, maybe a lot scared!). I had decided to
sit at my computer and try to put into words, on
paper where I could see it, my prayer to God
concerning this project and the conflicting,
difficult and scary parts of it. So I opened
Word and started my letter. "Dear God," when,
BOING, up pops Paper Clip Guy! "It looks like
you're writing a letter. Would you like help?"
As I moved my hand to send him packing, I said
out loud (ok, yes, I admit I talk to him now and
then!!), "yeah, I WISH you could help me write
this!" Click. Off he went, back to his virtual
paper clip tray.
Then it hit me. He's like the Holy Spirit!
(Wouldn't Bill Gates get a kick out of that?!)
But really, read this:
"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
with groans that words cannot express. And he
who searches our hearts knows the mind of the
Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans
8:26-27, NIV).
I remember a time several years ago when I was
hurting so bad and I kept trying to pray but I
had so much trouble putting into words what my
heart was aching to say to God! In my devotional
time one day, this verse was brought to my
attention. I vividly remember tears streaming
down my face as I asked the Holy Spirit to
intercede, to speak for me, to take my intense
need to the throne of God. I remember the relief
that washed over me as I realized that
communication was not impossible. The Holy
Spirit saw that I was "writing a letter" and
asked "Would you like help?" Oh, yes! Oh, yes I
would like help!
What an awesome God we serve--one who provides a
part of Himself to speak on our behalf to Him!
© Debbie Collins Parker
February 3, 2004 Debbiedcp@aol.com