Category: Prayer

“We don’t know what we should pray for … but the Spirit” (Romans 8:26)

“Praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude v.20)

There are times when we really don’t know how we should pray for a thing, or what the will of God may be over a certain matter. Instead of leaving us guessing, God has given Himself as a helper in the Person of the Holy Spirit. As we give ourselves whole-heartedly to the Lord, the Holy Spirit Himself quickens and stirs us in our praying. He has promised to guide us in our prayers. Prayer is not a mere repetition of words. Prayer takes us into a new realm, the realm of the Spirit, who hears our cries and knows our weaknesses; He then takes those very cries and interprets them according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). What an encouragement it is to know that we have Someone who so perfectly understands all our cares.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you, that even when I don’t pray eloquently, you understand perfectly the cries of my heart.”

“Your heavenly Father knows that you have need …. But seek first the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 6:32,33)

These words of Jesus come in a section of the sermon on the mount that is all about priorities. We can become so weighed down with the burdens and needs of the day. Food, clothes, jobs, children, schooling, even the work of the church can become burdensome. Don’t allow these anxieties to go round and round in your minds, analysing them, then rehearsing your analysis (which may be incorrect) before God. He already knows. What a comfort this is. Instead, employ your mental, physical and emotional energies in pursuing, in prayer, for the governance of His kingdom within your life. Then, other things can be left to themselves, while the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit of His kingdom (Romans 14:17) will be ours.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to have the priority of first, your kingdom in my life.”

“… before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24)

These words are not saying that you do not have to pray. Nor do they describe God as some sort of fortune teller, as to what is going to happen next. What these words do reveal is His extreme tenderness and willingness to come and assist us. He is there ready and waiting. He has already seen the situation and knows how best to answer it. What a God we have who not only knows all things (so we do not need to go over it all in detail) but is right there, ready to respond. Knowing that His heart is like this, what further reason do we have to delay in praying?

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that we don’t have to wait years and years in some sort of queue before you hear us, but even before we pray, you will reply.”

Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

At first, this may seem like a discouragement to prayer as who among us prays 24/7? However, this is not an instruction to pray consciously all the time. Instead, it is an exhortation to pray, to keep on praying and not give up. Neither does it mean to endlessly repeat words, or formulas; the heathen (unbelievers) do that, Jesus said (Matthew 6:7). It means that we are to ever conscious that there is a God who hears, loves and cares. We can continually, without ceasing, lift our hearts to Him, knowing that He will never grow weary of our dependency upon Him.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that we can always come to you & you never turn us away.”

“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace …” (Hebrews 4:16)

To come boldly does not mean to come arrogantly. Of ourselves, we have no right at all to come. In fact, if it was all due to our own merits, the invitation to come would never even be given. The fact that we are even invited is all because of the life, death and work of another, that is , the Lord Jesus Christ; the invitation is entirely due to His merits, not ours. When this truth is realised, though we may have trepidation, we can before the throne; and like Esther, we will find that the sceptre of acceptance is extended toward us. It is a throne of grace, not judgment and there is more than enough grace to overcome all my fears and doubts.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you alone have made it possible to come before your throne and bring our prayers to you.”

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

This is the basis and where all true prayer begins, that is, a consciousness of God. Need can be a motivation for prayer, but prayer really starts by being aware of who God is. Without this consciousness of God, prayer may only be a vague wish. Having become aware of God, James encourages us to draw near to Him. God does not want us to stand afar off, but to come ever closer. But, in addition, there is also a promise in these words. As we draw near to God, amazingly, He draws near to us. He actually comes to meet us; not with anger, or judgment, but in a loving desire to help, comfort and strengthen us, particularly in the area of praying. What a great encouragement this is to exercise ourselves more in this great realm of prayer.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to lay aside every other thought that, as I draw near to you, You want to be with me.”