Praying From The Spirit

Praying from the Spirit

Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20

YOU CAN PRAY ANYWHERE—that is a fundamental truth of the spiritual life. Praying is not dependent on your location, at least physically. But it may be dependent on your location spiritually. It matters whether you are praying from a place of faith, trust, rest, rebellion, confusion, desperation, victimization, or distorted identities. God invites us to talk to him anytime, but when we are praying from a place that is contrary to the Holy Spirit’s nature and influence, his answers will be focused on lifting us out of those perceptions. When we are praying in the Spirit, though—when our spirit is aligned with his wisdom, power, and love—there is nothing remedial for him to focus on. His Kingdom is advancing for us, in us, and through us.

That’s one reason Jude urged his readers to build one another up in faith by praying in the power of the Spirit. Literally he says to “pray in the Spirit”—from intense fellowship that is motivated, inspired, and empowered by God’s work within us. Believers debate whether “in the Spirit” refers to the deep groanings of Romans 8:26, the unknown languages of 1 Corinthians 14:14, or something else, but the bottom line is that we are called to pray prayers that originate in God’s heart, are inspired by our communion with him, are endorsed by his wisdom and zeal, and are carried out in his strength. This is no futile, tentative prayer life but a divine appointment in another realm, a conversation in the heavenly throne room. As stewards of God’s Kingdom on earth, we are invited here to add our human voice and agency to the Kingdom agenda. That’s a powerful position for asking.

If you need the Holy Spirit to pull you out of the depths, pray your heart out and believe he will answer you in power. But seek more than that. Aim to pray from your position in him and his presence in you. Pray for power from on high above all else. There is no better place from which to voice your requests.

Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer.