Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Persistence in Prayer - Praying in
the Holy Spirit
Thomas Philip
Christos MTC,
Philadelphia, PA
20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most
holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;
Do you believe that there are people who dial the phone and start speaking even before they hear a “Hello” from the other end? Actually, there are – probably some 2-year olds. These 2-year old children imitate their parents. Often on the other end of the line they hear a busy tone or some recorded messages such as “Please hang up and try again”. This analogy applies to prayers of many Christians. Psalms 66:18 says, “if I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
It is the will of our Heavenly Father that we earnestly seek the grace of God and be transformed daily into the likeness and personality of His Son, Jesus Christ. In order to be transformed to the nature of Christ, verse 20 says, we have to (1) immerse ourselves daily in things that build us up and (2) pray in the Holy Spirit. So let’s focus the theme, “praying in the Holy Spirit”. Jesus is our role model in prayer. He came down to this world to redeem us from the power of sin. Once we die to our self and are in submission to Christ, the transformation has begun. We start to grow spiritually and will be less like Adam and be more like Christ. Then we will be fervent in prayer and in living the Word of God.
So what is prayer? Prayer is an attitude of constant dependence, we pour out our hearts to the Lord in helplessness just like a child before his Father. The Father knows exactly what the child needs. Our prayer should be, Lord, transform me into the likeness and the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. In the Lord’s Prayer, the first and foremost request is about God’s name, God’s will, and God’s Kingdom. When the Kingdom of God begins to manifest in our lives, the Holy Spirit empowers us to pray in Spirit.
Do you believe that there are people who dial the phone and start speaking even before they hear a “Hello” from the other end? Actually, there are – probably some 2-year olds. These 2-year old children imitate their parents. Often on the other end of the line they hear a busy tone or some recorded messages such as “Please hang up and try again”. This analogy applies to prayers of many Christians. Psalms 66:18 says, “if I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
It is the will of our Heavenly Father that we earnestly seek the grace of God and be transformed daily into the likeness and personality of His Son, Jesus Christ. In order to be transformed to the nature of Christ, verse 20 says, we have to (1) immerse ourselves daily in things that build us up and (2) pray in the Holy Spirit. So let’s focus the theme, “praying in the Holy Spirit”. Jesus is our role model in prayer. He came down to this world to redeem us from the power of sin. Once we die to our self and are in submission to Christ, the transformation has begun. We start to grow spiritually and will be less like Adam and be more like Christ. Then we will be fervent in prayer and in living the Word of God.
So what is prayer? Prayer is an attitude of constant dependence, we pour out our hearts to the Lord in helplessness just like a child before his Father. The Father knows exactly what the child needs. Our prayer should be, Lord, transform me into the likeness and the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. In the Lord’s Prayer, the first and foremost request is about God’s name, God’s will, and God’s Kingdom. When the Kingdom of God begins to manifest in our lives, the Holy Spirit empowers us to pray in Spirit.
PRAYER
Almighty Lord, deliver
us from empty religiosity and praying with sin in our hearts. Make us holy;
transform us O’ Lord, In Jesus name. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Seek the glory of God in everything!
Seek the glory of God in everything!