Groaning in Prayer

Lord, teach me to groan...
     Forgive my shallow groans and my half-heartedness
     Forgive my groans at the loss of my misplaced joys
     When I don't understand your Sovereign ways
            and kick against the goad
      Forgive my groan.
      Let me groan for my sins and not comfort them
      May I groan for obedience.

Lord, teach me to groan
     for the widow and the orphan
     for the dying and the sick
     for the rebel and the fool
     for injustice and oppression,
          hatred and anger.
     Let me groan for those I love whose bent is toward destruction
          and have no appetite for grace.
     Let me groan for worry and fear,
          sickness and rebellion and hopelessness.

Lord, teach me to groan
     Let me groan with longing for the day of rescue
          for the day of reunion
          for the removal of sin and pain and death
                 the old order of things.
     Let me groan for tears finally wiped away
          for the cure of pain
          and the arrival of the life that is truly life-
               the peace of Your Presence forever.

Lord, teach me to groan until the final day.
I will stop groaning when I see Your face.

Groanings

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons."  -Romans 8:23

       This passage is a needed corrective to my ability to groan.  I picture myself on my knees in prayer, wrestling with God, groaning alone.  I hope that my groaning will be heard in heaven.  I hope that it will result in answers to prayer that I or a loved one sorely need.
       I am challenged to think differently now.  As I kneel to pray, Another comes to kneel as well.  I begin to pray and to groan.  The One beside me begins to groan as well.  Suddenly, I am taken aback by the deep intensity of His groans.  My groans suddenly seem shallow and self-centered.  My groans are half-hearted.  There is an end to the strength of my groaning. 
       Paul says the groans of the Holy Spirit are too deep for words. His groanings are altogether holy.  The Spirit clearly sees the distance between how things are and how things will be.  He has the divine power to groan like Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus.  He has all the power to groan for what will usher in healing and restoration.
       Let me groan in step with the Spirit.  It helps to know that when I hurt or someone I love hurts in a way I am helpless to meet, He groans as well.   Let my groans match His as we pray for the things that matter.  Holy Spirit:
1.  Join me in my groaning so that I am not alone in it.
2.  Still my groanings for lusts and passions and pleasures and material things that will not satisfy.
3.  Purify my sight so that I might understand Your groaning and join you in it.
4.  Give me strength to groan with increased intensity for the things which cause Your great heart to groan as well.