As a pastor I want us to be a people of prayer !
I want every one to be able to engage more and more in the area of prayer as individuals and corporately. Because prayer is simply talking with God, so easy and natural…yet in reality many of us struggle.
Prayer is one of the most important disciplines we have as a believer. For many it is easier to read a book or go to a conference on prayer than to actually pray…… it is one of those strange but true facts.
Would you prefer reading a book by candle light or by a bright overhead light? Although candle light has a certain beauty about it, it’s quite limited in the amount of light it can give. A gust of wind could easily blow out a candle or someone could extinguish it. To accomplish any amount of reading without severe eyestrain, we need overhead light to illuminate the books pages.
And to get this light we must pray.
In the spiritual realm, prayer is that switch that allows the power of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our lives. Many Christians live their lives guided only by their own natural light, their own wisdom and power.
But by using the switch of prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes and causes the Father’s light to bathe our lives. Prayer is the difference – the power is there already. It just has to be switched on. We just need to get connected.
Prayer is about intimacy, relationship, discipline.
4 principles of prayer:
1. The Holy Spirit helps us to know what and how to pray.
In what ways are we weak when it comes to prayer? We all know what it feels like to be frustrated with not knowing how to pray.
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. Romans 8:26
2. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
He prays for the needs we cannot express fully
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. Romans 8:26
3. God hears our heart in prayer more than our words.
God is intimately concerned with our well being. Some people pray with great eloquence, but their prayers don’t seem to go any further than the ceiling. Others stumble and struggle, but because their hearts are full, the Lord Jesus hears their requests. The skill in effective prayer is not propriety (doing/saying the right thing) but sincerity.
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. Romans 8:27
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8
4. Prayer is always answered
Do you ever wonder in what ways God may be working even when he does not give an immediate ‘yes’ to our prayers. God is always working for our good. So even when some of our prayers appear to be answered negatively, God is working to transform us to the image of His Son.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29
Mark Williams
Very interesting read. It is odd how often I find it hard to pray. Sometimes it flows and sometimes it feels very forced and not very heartfelt. How awesome though that God knows us so intimately that He knows exactly what we will say to Him.