The Holy Spirit must be Lord of our praying if we want God to move in our lives and in the lives of others.
Wesley Duewel, author of Mighty Prevailing Prayer, says that without the Spirit filling us, we will pray weakly.
Duewel echoes many other writers and Christian leaders over the ages when he says we must surrender command of our lives to God and seek regular filling of the Spirit if we are to pray with power.
He notes that the Spirit draws us to pray. Because of the Spirit within us, we are sometimes prompted to pray for people out of the blue, without knowing what the problem is. Often, we find out that we have prayed at a critical moment in a friend's life.
The Holy Spirit also teaches us to pray. He shows us what to pray for as we spend time with God.
"The Holy Spirit teaches you the love of prayer, the wise and appropriate content of prayer, and how to pray in the Spirit."
Duewel says that Spirit-filled people realize when they are praying for their own desires and not God's. "There comes an inner hesitation, a gentle restraint of the Spirit."
"As you delight yourself in the Lord, you begin to understand more and more clearly what pleases the Lord and what is his will. The Holy Spirit, your loving teacher, will help you to know God's will, rejoice in God's will, and pray for his will."
The Holy Spirit plants within us his own love for people, his concern for them. This becomes our burden of prayer. We want to pray for these people.
"You can love, by your prayer, people who avoid or resist you. You can love people anywhere in the world by your prayer."
Of course, the Spirit also gives us prayer power.
"Ask God to place his prayer burdens on your heart," Duewel says. "He has specific prayer assignments for you."
As well, the Spirit "multiplies" our faith - grows our faith.
"He multiplies faith by giving you a new revelation of the greatness and power of God, by giving you a vision of how God longs to act on your behalf, and by impressing on your heart particular promises of God."
What an incentive to seek more of God through the Holy Spirit!
Wesley Duewel, author of Mighty Prevailing Prayer, says that without the Spirit filling us, we will pray weakly.
Duewel echoes many other writers and Christian leaders over the ages when he says we must surrender command of our lives to God and seek regular filling of the Spirit if we are to pray with power.
He notes that the Spirit draws us to pray. Because of the Spirit within us, we are sometimes prompted to pray for people out of the blue, without knowing what the problem is. Often, we find out that we have prayed at a critical moment in a friend's life.
The Holy Spirit also teaches us to pray. He shows us what to pray for as we spend time with God.
"The Holy Spirit teaches you the love of prayer, the wise and appropriate content of prayer, and how to pray in the Spirit."
Duewel says that Spirit-filled people realize when they are praying for their own desires and not God's. "There comes an inner hesitation, a gentle restraint of the Spirit."
"As you delight yourself in the Lord, you begin to understand more and more clearly what pleases the Lord and what is his will. The Holy Spirit, your loving teacher, will help you to know God's will, rejoice in God's will, and pray for his will."
The Holy Spirit plants within us his own love for people, his concern for them. This becomes our burden of prayer. We want to pray for these people.
"You can love, by your prayer, people who avoid or resist you. You can love people anywhere in the world by your prayer."
Of course, the Spirit also gives us prayer power.
"Ask God to place his prayer burdens on your heart," Duewel says. "He has specific prayer assignments for you."
As well, the Spirit "multiplies" our faith - grows our faith.
"He multiplies faith by giving you a new revelation of the greatness and power of God, by giving you a vision of how God longs to act on your behalf, and by impressing on your heart particular promises of God."
What an incentive to seek more of God through the Holy Spirit!
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