Praying in the Holy Spirit

”Praying in the Holy Spirit”

Ephesians 6:18

Sixth in a Series on Prayer—Oswald Chambers

            When you pray are you ‘praying in the Holy Spirit’? What does this mean? It means using the power given to us by God to maintain a simple relationship to Jesus. It means that we are released from our petitions because God knows the things you have need of before we ask but the act of praying enables us to know God. Prayer is not an exercise, it is life.

            Why pray? Many people need to pray because there is a need within them which seeks to be filled. Often we come across people who try us, circumstances that are difficult, conditions that are perplexing and all these things awaken in us a sense of need. A sense of need is one of the greatest benedictions because it keeps our life rightly related to Jesus. Our prayers are heard because of our faith in Jesus and through this we must believe that God will answer prayer.

            When we pray in the Holy Spirit, we will have a more intimate concept of God. The Spirit brings all through us the sense of His resources. As human beings we would rather cling rather than to take another step. We might put one foot on God’s side and one on the side of human reasoning,. But it is God who widens the space until we either drop between or jump to one side. But we have to take a leap and if we truly have learned to rely on the Holy Spirit it will be a reckless leap to God. Many of us limit our praying because we are not as confident in God as we should be. Yet when we pray in the Holy Spirit, we will realize the resources of God, and that our relationship is of a parent to child yet with God it is because of Jesus.

            If you are praying in the Holy Spirit, it makes no difference what your work is or what your circumstances are. This Spirit will produce an atmosphere round you which will bring glory to God. Pray without ceasing and keep the childlike habit of continually exclaiming in yoru heart to God. Recognize and rely on the Holy Spirit all the time. As Jesus prayed so should we. And when we pray in the Holy Spirit, we bring to God the things that come quite naturally to our minds, and the Holy Spirit who “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” enables God to answer the prayer so that we may be the children of God. (Romans 8:27, Matthew 5:45) The Holy Spirit cannot delight in our wisdom; it is the wisdom of God the Spirit delights in.

PRAYER:

Lord I still move and live in a dim world, feeling you near by faith, but I will not presume. I would hide in you in security and patience until I am as you would have me to be. Amen.

Quotes from  Oswald Chambers “If You Will Ask: ch 7 Praying in the Holy Spirit

BLOG QUESTION:

Praying in the Holy Spirit is not something we often say we do. In fact many of our familiar prayers or personal prayers end with “In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”  What does praying in the Holy Spirit mean to you? Does this ‘use’ of the third person of the Trinity enhance or take away your understanding of growing closer to God- Father, Son and Spirit? How or why?  Try praying in the Holy Spirit and see if this is a different experience or not and share your thoughts.