Praying In The Spirit

"for we know not what we should pray for..." (Rom 8:26).  As strange as it may seem, power in prayer is only for those humble enough to acknowledge that they do not know how to pray.

The Holy Spirit is looking for people like that so that He can empower them in prayer.  "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Rom 8:26 niv).

Only if we have the Holy Spirit's enablement in prayer, can we obey the command given by Paul in Ephesians 6:18; "keep on praying in the Spirit..Be alert - watch and pray".

Paul calls and encourages us to "pray in the Spirit".  This is one sure way of avoiding praying "amiss". 

Sometimes problems can be so large and people's lives so messed up, we don't know how to help them.  There are so many different kinds of probelms - involving decisions, people, places, finances, health and spiritual needs.

Often it seems that we are all "entangled" and we don't know who to untangle it.  We want to do the right thing, in the right way with the right people in the right place for the right reason.  But where and how should we start?

What a comfort thus, is to know that the Holy Spirit knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows who we are, where we are and how we are.  He also knows that the Father's will and answer for every need.  His wisdom and power make up for our lack of knowledge.  The Holy Spirit compensates for our weakness and deficiencies in prayer.  And much more than that, He is ready to put the words so that we pray according to God's will.


Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng