I think most would agree that our prayer life has been increasing as the times we live in seem to get more difficult. Reading and studying the Bible causes us to grow in our understanding of God’s ways, but our times of prayer bring us into the presence of God in a Father/son/daughter relationship.
The Bible even makes mention of “Abba,” which can be translated “Daddy,” to show us how deep our Heavenly Father desires to take you and me into a relationship with Him. Let’s review a few thoughts about praying in the Spirit and using the most intimate word for our relationship with the Lord God Almighty.
The Spirit of God uses the Word of God when we pray. When I am praying about something, God is bringing to mind thoughts of Scriptures that I can use that line up with His ways and His will.
God uses Scripture as a guide to help me ask for things God wants me to have and gives me the truths that explain His purposes and will to my request.
I assume God wants to give me specific direction through the Scriptures He led me to.
Romans 8:26-27 are such important verses related to prayers.
“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 through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” -Romans 8:26-27
When I pray, I read the Scriptures knowing that is how God desires to lead each of us according to His Word. Our Father knows our needs, and He wishes to lead us “in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3, ESV).”
Do you know what George Mueller said he did first in seeking direction from God?
“I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period … that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been ALWAYS directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not patiently wait upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes.” -George Mueller
I, John Maisel, am a sinner and can relate to the Apostle Paul, who referred to himself as chief of all sinners.
If you and I don’t have a clear understanding of our sinfulness, we can never embrace the depth of our sin that gives us the supernatural understanding of God’s grace and mercy, which Christ brings to us in His love for us.
We have a great Savior, who paid it all and covers each of us with perfect love as He leads us in His “paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3, ESV).”
Let me close by asking you to stop reading this and take time to thank God for so great a salvation that is free by grace to us, but it cost God the Son greatly. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your grace, love, and mercy that has followed me all the days of my life—even before I understood and said, “Yes,” to You, my Lord and God.
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FaithJohn Maisel
John's travels for ministry behind the Iron Curtain led him to found East-West Ministries International in 1993. John and his wife, Susie, live in Dallas, Texas and have a grown daughter and two grandchildren.