The Spirit Knows how to Pray

“...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

This is part of the instructions Paul gave the Ephesians about having on the whole armor of God. It goes along with having the whole armor of God. It’s realizing that we’re contending with and struggling with “principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” (Ephesians 6: 12) when we are praying. Because it is a spiritual battle, we must fight it in a spiritual way. We have no power on our own merit, but the Word of God is powerful. It is the Truth that is at our core being. We have the righteousness of Jesus covering us. We walk on the foundation of the Gospel. We stand on our faith that fails not, knowing that we are saved, belong to God and are the children of the Father. And we wield the Word of God as our weapon, the Truth against the lies of the enemy. Knowing this we can pray. We can worship and petition the Father.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Our prayer must be spiritual and must be truth. If it’s spiritual that means it must not contain earthy and human elements. It must not contain doubt, human reasoning or even human words. It must be Spirit inspired, Spirit led, and Spirit given. God has set the standard. And that standard is divine and eternal. We allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us. He knows how to petition the Father. He knows what to petition the Father. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

The Father is God Almighty. While we don’t have to put on a pretense with Him, we must be in the Spirit when petitioning Him. We don’t have to use elaborate words, but our words must come from our heart, rising from the inspiration of the Spirit. And our words must be in line with the truth of the Word of God. We petition our heavenly Father Who sits on the Throne in heavenly places. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

This is the way Jesus prayed. “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)

Our Scripture of study tells us that we must persevere. We don’t know how the Lord is working in the things we cannot see.  There may be situations or others that must change before we see our prayer answered. So, we don’t give up. “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1Thessalonians 5:17-18) We might not see the answer to that prayer, but if it’s met God’s standard, it will be fulfilled, although it may not be on our timetable. This is especially true of our prayers for the brethren. “Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2).

Essentially to wrestle in prayer against the enemy, we must pray in the Spirit to our heavenly Father. We must go to the Throne Room and like Jesus overcome by the Holy Spirit pour our heart to Him, our words and hearts flowing out to Him by the inspiration of the Spirit, led of the Spirit, words given by the Holy Spirit. And continue in prayer until it’s answered. We know God has heard our prayer because it’s a spiritual prayer from the eternal Spirit Who knows how to pray.