For we know that the whole creation [every creature] groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit [to know], the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (Romans 8:22-25).

The day is coming when we are not going to have this flesh body. We’ll have a glorified body and we’ll take on immortality. We’ll be a spirit being in a spirit body! There will be no more war between our spirits and our flesh.

What do we do while waiting for the redemption of these bodies? We groan within ourselves, in the spirit, waiting for that day. Romans 8:26 tells us how to overcome the weakness of our flesh and to walk in the spirit, even while we live in this body. This revelation has changed my life and the lives of countless others.

“So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance” (Romans 8:26, amp).

How does He bear us up in our weakness? By enabling us to pray in the spirit. Praying in the spirit causes your spirit to dominate your flesh. Praying in the spirit applies spirit to flesh. When you pray in the spirit, you pray the perfect will of God. Your prayer knows no limitation. It is God the Holy Spirit, speaking through your spirit to God the Father, in the Name of God the Son. That is prayer that cannot be overthrown.

The King James Version translates the word weakness as “infirmities.” Perhaps we have overlooked what was actually being said. The Greek word is singular and should have been translated “weakness.” Romans 6-8 talks about the weakness of the flesh and the strength of the spirit. God has not changed directions. He is talking about overcoming the weakness of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit is our comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby (John 14:16, amp). His ministry is to bear us up, help us and strengthen us. God knew that man was weak through his flesh. He says:

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgements, and do them (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

God does not expect you to overcome the weakness of the flesh, even by your new, born-again spirit. He gave you His Spirit to help and to strengthen you (Ephesians 3:16).

Gloria Copeland