Learning to pray
...the Spirit...makes intercession for us... Romans 8:26
Prayer isn't natural to us. Our natural inclination is to depend on ourselves. Some of us haven't learned how to pray. Others don't pray enough to be comfortable with it. Still others don't understand enough of God's Word to pray biblically and get results. Whatever the case, we've no excuse not to pray. The Holy Spirit who lives within us can clarify, correct and change our prayer so that by the time it reaches God it's all sorted out. The Bible says, '...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...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. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:26-28 NKJV). Who do 'all things work together for good' for? Just anybody and everybody who believes? No, those who 'love God.' And more importantly, those who have learned to allow the Holy Spirit within them to pray, because what He asks for will always be in line with God's will. Learning to pray is like learning a foreign language. The best way to learn it is to hang out in an environment where the language is spoken. So if you want to learn to pray you must a) take the time to do it b) spend time with those who know how to do it c) allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.
UCB Word for Today - 23/Jan/10