Prayer: Spirit Teach Me
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NKJV)
The disciples saw and heard Jesus praying. In that, they saw something missing in their prayers. So, wisely, they ask Jesus “teach us to pray.”
The Holy Spirit has guided me in many ways while I was reading His Word and praying in my journey. I was reminded today of a way that I had not fully grasp in recent times. While I knew the Scripture that said the Holy Spirit would always guide us and He would even teach us how to pray, I did not understand how much He had.
I begin to reflect on two prayers that I knew the Lord had told me to pray and I have even seen God answer. However, I had not realized the strength of the scripture that promised He would do just that. As I have prayed these two specific prayers, as the situation changed and evolved, the Holy Spirit would give me new guidance and clarity on how to pray.
Two specific prayers over the last few years the Lord told me to pray as I cried out in my need and as I shared my frustration with the Father. As I was seeking God on how to handle these two situations, God was faithful. I was praying and asking the Lord to move in these situations at different points in time the Lord gave me a specific couple of phrases and specifics to pray as a direction in these matters. As I prayed these intentionally over and over, and even on occasion asking a few prayer partners to join me in them, I have seen God move mountains in these two ways. The amazing thing is when I prayed these Holy Spirit directed prayers I was empowered knowing I was praying the will of the Father. I still did not know how God would move but knew it was the right way to move forward. Today I can even to a point almost joke at some aspects of them because it is amazing how God has moved the hand of people that were not directed by God in the answering of my prayers that He by His Spirit lead me into praying. To this day, if similar issues arise I now have the confidence to pray boldly to my Father. The Spirit of God has taught me how to pray in these matters.
My friend, may I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit guide you in your prayers. Let Him teach you how you should pray. Jesus said He must go to the Father, but He would not leave us alone. Rather He sent the Holy Spirit, The Spirit of God to walk with us. To Teach us all things. Could I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray? Especially, whatever it is that is weighing heavy on you, would you pray this with me:
“Father would you please teach me how to pray by the Holy Spirit in my need and situation today. I do not want to pray out of fear or worry or even my anxieties, rather I want to pray in agreement with your will, I want to pray the prayer empowered by your Spirit. So today, Holy Spirit teach me how to pray about these issues and needs in my life. I cannot do it, but Holy Spirit you can teach me how to pray for my needs, my family, and my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV)
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20 (NKJV)
