Romans 8:26-27

"We do not know how to pray properly, but the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness and intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Paul is counseling the Christians in Rome about prayer. He reminds them not to judge prayers by their eloquence or length, as though God is impressed by the performance of the person praying. In prayer Christians are simply to give themselves to God, trusting that the Spirit of God will "speak" through them. This passage may remind us of the teaching about prayer attributed to Jesus in the gospel of Matthew: "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Mt. 6:7-8)

Paul does not say anything about what Jesus might have taught concerning prayer, so we cannot conclude that Paul is merely paraphrasing a teaching by Jesus. But clearly the church begins by teaching that prayer involves opening our hearts.

Grace and peace...Bob