Spiritual Disciplines, Prayer Part II

 


26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 English Standard Version

In the first part on the spiritual discipline of prayer we looked at how to better set the conditions for prayer. We listed five things that we can do to help our prayer life.

1. Turn off all our devices.

2. Go to a place of solitude.

3. Use pen and paper to structure our prayer.

4. Make a list of things we are thankful for.

5. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself and His will to us.

So, I’ve taken the plunge and turned off my cellphone. I found a place where I can be alone. I even made an outline of what I want to talk to the Lord about, including a list of things I’m thankful for, and I’ve asked God to speak to me. And there I sit, lost in my own thoughts. I want to enjoy a deep meaningful prayer life; but, nothing seems to happen. I know how this feels. It happens to me frequently. Sometimes I find this problem deeply discouraging. When I feel that way, I need to turn to the Romans passage. In Romans, Paul details the role of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life. We need to regularly remind ourselves of this. The Holy Spirit, dwelling inside me, undertakes several tasks which make my prayer life efficacious. 

First, Paul points out the sore truth that we do not really know how to pray. At some level, it is hubris in the extreme for me to come before God-Almighty-Creator of the Universe and tell Him how I think things ought to be going. Interestingly, that is exactly the kind of relationship God desires for us, the intimate relationship of a daddy with his dear children. This is why the Holy Spirit helps shape my prayers. 

Secondly, the Holy Spirit intercedes for me. He speaks for me. He entreats the Father on my behalf. I do not pray correctly. Often I may ask for things I shouldn’t. Perhaps my fumbling words do not adequately carry the meaning I want. In those moments, the Holy Spirit speaks for me. 

Thirdly, the Holy Spirit groans for me. Often this life crushes us, especially our spirit. We ache and hurt. Our hearts are weighed down by the cares and concerns of this life. We see the broken state of the world and grieve. Perhaps a dear one is estranged from the Lord or lies stricken with some dread sickness. The Holy Spirit steps in and renders our pain into something intelligible to the Lord.

Fourthly, the Holy Spirit searches my heart. He looks in and engages in understanding my heart, my thoughts, and my motivations. He also reveals these things to me. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. I Corinthians 11:28 The Holy Spirit helps me examine myself. The entire section that the above verse comes from is rather sobering, but I want to focus on the help that we get from the Holy Spirit. He looks into our hearts and helps us as we pray as we ought.

The Lord knew that I would fumble my way through prayer. So He gave me His Spirit to help shape my feeble mumblings into something worthy of His time. I do not have to worry about my prayer. It is not sufficient. It is not complete. Often, it is not even coherent. I am frequently distracted by minor little things that do not pertain to my prayers. In all of these cases, the Holy Spirit steps in and takes my weak anemic efforts and turns them into something beautiful and fragrant, holy incense as it were, for the Father. We should not let the adversary discourage us when we struggle with prayer. We have God’s Holy Spirit living inside us working hard to help us pray as we ought. That should comfort all of us. Our Father knew beforehand that we would need help and made a way for us. That is comfort and help indeed. 

Thought Questions:

1. What makes you struggle with prayer?

2. How do you keep your focus?

3. What is the greatest problem you are facing now?

4. Do you struggle to communicate your feelings to your loved ones?

5. How could the Holy Spirit best help you pray better?


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