prayer in the Spirit

God really seems concerned about what we say to Him.

First, He gave us the Psalms.  Bonhoeffer said that the Psalms differed from every other book in the Bible in that, while the other books are God’s words to us, the Psalms are words He gave us to say back to Him.  If we take the Psalms as our pattern for prayer, it’s amazing the kinds of things we’ll be confessing to God!

Not only did he give us the Psalms though, He also gave us the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

When our words fail us, God has plenty of them! The Holy Spirit can fill us with words to say, to God or to anyone else.  All we have to do is ask.

“Prayer in the Spirit” is not strange or mystical. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through you.  God will give you the words to pray as you pray,  letting you know exactly what you need to be praying to God.

First, we need to get still.  Quit trying to be eloquent to God.  Just be quiet and still.  Let God take over your Words.  The Holy Spirit is in every believer.  He is longing for an opportunity to guide your thinking and your praying.  How can He, though, when we are constantly jabbering,  our minds racing,  our heads filled with the empty blather or the radio, television, and internet.  We need composure. We need quiet. More than anything, we need to let the Holy Spirit show us what we need.

Be still before God. Wait for Him to speak. This will be hard at first, but there is no easier way.  We have to be still.  In time, we will experience the promptings of the Holy Spirit,  moving inside. The Holy Spirit will show us precisely what we need, and bring our real request to God.  What comes out of our mouth in public prayer is often very different from what is really on our hearts. God’s Spirit can get to the matters that matter much better than we can.

Prayer in the Holy Spirit is not as mystical or arduous as we suppose. It is only resting in God, and letting Him do the talking, in us and through us.

Thank You, Father for the Holy Spirit, Who leads us to You, fills us with You, and speaks to You on our behalf.

Thank You that when we do not know how to pray, You not only listening to our stammering ineloquent tongues, but give us the words that speak from our heart to Yours.

Grant us, today, the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Mend us, make us, fill us, use us.  Make us like a glove on your hand, demonstrating Your power and Your personality to everything we touch today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

So get into your place of meditation and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in your prayers.  First, though, ask Him to enlighten you as you read the passages below,

Romans 8:12-14 When are we the sons and daughters of God? What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God?  How do you know when you are?

Rom 8:15-17.   The word “Abba” is the Aramaic equivalent of “Daddy.”   What is the difference between calling God “Father” and calling him “Daddy”?   What does this tell us about God’s relationship to us?

Rom 8:26-27 How does the Holy Spirit help us in our praying?