We Don't Know - We DO Know

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. [Romans 8.26-30]

I want to take exception to something Paul said here. Yes, I am going to disagree with the Apostle Paul, because the Jesus disagreed with Paul.

Paul said, "we don't know what God wants us to pray for..." However, that statement is simply not in accordance with the Gospels of Jesus. Jesus was emphatic that we are to pray for God's will on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6).

I think Paul came to this same conclusion though as he continued to write because in verse 28 of chapter 8 of Romans, Paul said, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

So Paul at first said, "we don't know...", but then said, "we know..." And this is where I think Paul concluded (as we should also) that, even though we may have some ignorance about every single detail of heaven, we still have every assurance that heaven's way (as it is in heaven) is good and, therefore, good toward all who take part in it.

Not only is heaven good, but far beyond that. Heaven is glorious. And, because heaven is glorious, we can know that is God's will for His people. Paul confirmed that too in verse 30: And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 

Our relationship with God is about transcending in our life from earthly thinking to Kingdom thinking. Earthly thinking is fallen. Kingdom thinking is glorious. Earthly thinking is lacking. Kingdom thinking is fulfilled. Earthly thinking is limited. Kingdom thinking is unlimited. Earthly thinking is hopeless. Kingdom thinking has all hope. Earthly thinking is ignorant. Kingdom thinking is informed. Earthly thinking is faithless. Kingdom thinking is faithful. This list could go on and on...

Father, in seeing Paul's progression of thought here in his letter to the Romans, I can see that I too need to progress in my thinking. I need to understand that earthly thinking is not Your way and therefore should not be my way. Help me to think as a Kingdom resident!