My youngest grandson is 17 months old and beginning to talk. He has two older siblings, so there is never a time in each day that he does not observe or hear adult conversation or interaction. He knows and says the word for many body parts. He knows all the farm animals and the sounds they make. Some of his sounds are better than the real thing, at least Grandma thinks so. He has not developed selective hearing yet and can instantly repeat your words, whether he actually knows what they mean or not. Some words he knows what they mean and he can apply them to a given situation and we say to ourselves, “where did that come from?” This newly achieved ability to communicate with us is great. We now know when he is thirsty, without groaning; we know when he is hungry, without crying. We know when he needs help, because he can tell us and he doesn’t have to whine anymore. From time to time, someone does need to guess or translate what he says, but for the most part everyone is catching on. However, it has not always been this way. Four short months ago we couldn’t understand a thing he said. Communication was strictly by whines, crying, and groaning. Let’s put God in the adult position of this story. God does hear this form of communication from us through the Holy Spirit. When we need God in a certain way and we just don’t know how to say the words, the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit knows what we are trying to say and says it for us. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Thank you, Father, for giving us the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for living in us and knowing us so well that You can speak for us even when we don’t know the words to say. Help us to feel Your presence and know that You are always with us, and that You want to intercede in our time of need. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.