Dr. Dan Hayden •
Do you know the difference between asking for something, and pleading for something? Sure you do. Pleading is “hyper-asking.” It’s asking with intensity. Now did you know that this is exactly what the Holy Spirit does for you when you pray? He intercedes for you.
Aren’t you encouraged when someone says, “I have been praying for you.” The fact that they are interceding for you bolsters your spirit. Not only because they are showing compassion, but because you believe that prayer is a significant means of help.
You may be encouraged to know that the Holy Spirit is praying for you. In fact, He’s not only interceding on your behalf, He’s “hyper-interceding.” He’s pleading. Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…”
This word “intercedes” is the Greek word entupcono, which is the common Greek word used in the New Testament to express the idea of interceding on behalf of someone else. But there is a twist here. The preposition hupere is added to the word entupcono. Hupere means “over and above; beyond, more than.” It’s where we get our English word “hyper.”
So, in reality, God is saying that the Holy Spirit “hyper-intercedes” for us. There’s an intensity to His intercession. He’s not just asking—He’s pleading on our behalf. So, in the midst of your suffering, remember as you pray that the Holy Spirit is praying right along with you and His prayer is filled with intensity and earnestness. He is hyper-interceding on your behalf.
And remember, you never pray alone. The Holy Spirit is always praying right along with you, so be encouraged!
For further study, see The Prayer Puzzle.