Praying in the Spirit

Have you ever had difficulty in your prayer life? Many people do. One lady explained that she thought she wasn't spiritual because she struggled in her prayer experience. Have you ever felt that way?

Ever since the time when Adam & Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden people have desired to communicate better with god. the Bible records that Spirit-filled people have had struggles in trying to pray.

Exodus 33:18 - Moses desire to be even closer to God than he had been before.
Habakkuk 1:2 - Habakkuk could not understand why God was not hearing his prayer.
1 Samuel 3:7 - Samuel did not recognize God's voice when He first spoke to him.

Consider David:
Psalm 4:1 - At least 19 times in the Psalms David pleaded with God to hear his prayer.
Psalm 22:1-2 - There were times when David felt forsaken by God.
Psalm 69:16-18 - David plead with God to hear him speedily.
Psalm 35:13 - David said his prayer seemed to return to him instead of going to God.
Luke 11:1-4 - The disciples needed to be taught how to pray.

The Holy Spirit Helps Our Weaknesses

Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as "the Helper." John 16:7. The Holy Spirit helps us gain victory over our weaknesses that make it difficult for us to pray. That is what the biblical "praying in the Spirit" is.

The Bible refers to an experience in prayer called "praying in the Spirit". Notice the two texts that mention it: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." Jude 20. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18.

If we let the Bible interpret itself we discover that the phrase "in the Spirit" refers to being Spirit-controlled. In Revelation 1:10 John said: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." What was happening to John? He was under the control of the Holy Spirit, and by divine power was enabled to experience things he otherwise could not have experienced. Again, to pray in the Spirit means to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit.
"The Holy Spirit will be given to those who seek for its power and grace, and will help our infirmities when we would have audience with God." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pg. 1078.

I use to have the idea that the Holy Spirit was sort of a heavenly interpreter. In other words, I would try to pray, but because I couldn't pray very well the Holy Spirit prayed for me in heaven. This idea I found not only unbiblical, but it helped me become lazy in prayer. If I was tired, or if my thoughts wandered I would find it easy to give up, and take solace in the idea that the Holy Spirit was praying for me anyway! The truth is that the Holy Spirit comes to me and helps me to pray. He prays through me.

In Romans 8:26 it says, "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." Actually, the New American Standard Bible provides the best translation of this text. "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know <I>how to pray</I> as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Because we struggle with our flesh, just as Jesus said in Matthew 26:41, we find it very difficult to pray. Therefore, the Holy Spirit (Who is the Helper, which comes from the Greek word "paraclete", and means "the One who comes along-side to help"), comes to us and gives us power that we may be victorious in prayer. Concerning Jesus, Luke 22:43-44 says, "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.
"We must not only pray in Christ's name, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Holy Spirit `maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.' Rom. 8:26. Such prayer God delights to answer. When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer `exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.' Eph. 3:20." Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 147.
"Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man's behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, pg. 1077-78.

The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to pray.

Since by nature, our human nature, none of us seeks for God (Romans 3:11), the Holy Spirit gives us a longing to pray (Psalm 84:2; 41:1-2 &amp; 63:1-2). Prayer is a gift of God (Zechariah 12:10). God puts the desire in our heart to approach Him (Psalm 65:4).
"The Lord draws out the soul in prayer, and gives us to feel His precious love." Sons and Daughters of God, pg. 311.

The Holy Spirit teaches us what to pray.

He helps us pray according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). Through the Bible the Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-11). As we study the Bible we are led to understand God's will and these things will be brought to our mind by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17,26; 15:7; 16:13).
"The Holy Spirit indites all genuine prayer. I have learned to know that in all my intercessions, the Spirit intercedes for me and for all saints who intercessions are according to the will of God, never contrary to His will. . . If we are taught of God, we shall pray in conformity to His revealed will and in submission to His will which we know not. We are to make supplication according to the will of God, relying on the precious Word, and believing that Christ not only gave Himself for, but to, His disciples." Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, pg. 36.
"Let the inspiration of the Spirit of God dictate your prayers." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pg. 367.

The Holy Spirit gives us victory over wandering thoughts.

We all tend to have wandering, anxious thoughts (Psalm 94:19). In Psalm 55:2 it speaks of being restless. In Hebrew the word "restless" may also mean "to wander". So if you experience wandering thoughts in prayer do not be discouraged. It is a common problem we all face to one extent or another.

Zechariah 12:10 promises that God will pour out the spirit of prayer upon us. I claim this promise and ask God to help me pray. It has been a real source of strength to me. In Ephesians 6:12 Paul asserts that we are not just struggling against our weakness of the flesh, but also against Satan and the evil angels. They do not want us to pray and they try to keep us from it. Therefore, as Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness by using Scripture, so likewise we should claim the power of God provided in the Bible.

Another very helpful idea for me has been to use the prayers of the Bible to help me pray. A good example of this is the Lord's prayer. I do not use this as a prayer to be memorized and repeated word for word, but as an outline for prayer. Click on the above link to see what I mean. However, there are many other prayers in the Bible that would help us to organize our thoughts when we pray.
"Though the mind may wander in prayer, be not discouraged, bring it back to the throne and do not leave the mercy seat until you have the victory. . . ." Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, pg. 37.

The Holy Spirit gives victory over sleepiness.

A great promise to claim for sleepiness is Psalm 77:4. Claim this promise when sleep would try to rob you of your time with God. Also, using the prayers of the Bible to help you pray as mentioned above, will help overcome drowsiness.

Here are some suggestions to help you in overcoming drowsiness. Do not try to pray in a warm stuffy room. Open a window for the circulation of fresh air. I often pray in the garage where it is private. In the winter I put on my heavy coat. I put a piece of soft material on the hard floor and kneel on that. Just changing to this kind of location has helped me overcome sleepiness.

Consider your eating and sleeping habits. Take a serious attitude toward your health. Avoid the use of meat, dairy products, caffeine, nicotine, and other intoxicating substances. Do not overeat, and stay away from too free use of sugar. These habits not only tend toward ill health but make your system sluggish, and lend you more susceptible to sleep when you should pray. Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day, and adopt a regular exercise plan. These will help you have more energy. Get to bed earlier so that you get plenty of sleep.