I read my last post again yesterday (Praying Jesus’ Prayer for the Sick), and I realized that I didn’t go into any detail about a pretty important aspect of praying what Jesus prays. I touched on it only briefly when explaining why I usually reflexively pray for healing: “Because I value comfort and safety above whatever move the Spirit is making in that person’s life.” The move of the Spirit is the key here. God’s purpose undergirds every event in my life, including times of injury and illness. When I join Jesus, praying what He gives me to pray, I am then in the flow of the Spirit and the will and purpose of God. That’s where I really want to be!
The Spirit Calls Us to Pray in the Heavens
However, God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. May God be praised! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me.
Psalm 66:19-20 HCSB
When the Holy Spirit was unfolding all of this in my heart, He didn’t condemn me for my prayers. It wasn’t even a chastening really (or at least it didn’t feel like it!). He simply called me higher. My prayers were heartfelt but earthbound. The Holy Spirit called me to heavenly prayer instead.
Martha talks about living in the heavens, as do so many of the great lovers of God that I’ve read. But I honestly wasn’t really sure what that even entailed. I’m still pretty fuzzy on it, but this felt like a breakthrough in understanding. I can live in the heavens, praying what Jesus Christ gives me to pray and following the Spirit in victory, or I can stay on the ground and live ignorant of God’s will by choice. However heartfelt my earthbound prayers might be, they are spiritually immature. And that isn’t the worst thing ever or even sinful necessarily. A new believer will spend some time being spiritually immature as a matter of course. But the Holy Spirit is moving, always moving. And if I am following the Spirit, He will do what is necessary to bring me to spiritual maturity – like teaching me to pray in a heavenly way.
Pray in the Spirit at ALL Times
I often believe that I have to move/pray/do right now. Satan constantly tells me that there just isn’t time to wait for God to speak to me. Lie! There is always time to wait on the Keeper of Time Himself. What if praying God’s will for someone I love ends up shortening their suffering? Isn’t that worth the wait?
Not every turn or pivot in this life is the result of chastening for sin (I need the Holy Spirit to remind me of that often!). Sometimes the Spirit simply graduates us to a new place of responsibility – and privilege. It is a true privilege to be a vessel for Christ’s love AND intercession for another person. It’s a new chapter in my adventure with Jesus and it’s thrilling!
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
When we walk in the light He has given us He gives us more light to lift us up higher. Don’t ever feel guilty when you learn something you have been doing was incorrect, or not in the fullness He intended it to be. That is just Him giving us more life! That is being changed from glory to glory even into His image! All that I wrote above came forth from Him after reading what you wrote. What I wrote was to be an encouragement to you, but it was an encouragement to ME! We sometimes have growing pains,… Read more »
Thank you so much for this, William! It is a timely word and a great encouragement to me. Far better the wind and waves and a moving ship than a glassy calm and empty sails. This new perspective is a gift and I’m grateful!
Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your new adventure with Jesus and, yes, it IS thrilling — it just spills over and makes Him so much bigger! “Praying IN HIM” — Warrior Bride is what comes to mind . . . can’t explain right yet; just unfolding. Looking at the verse just before the one we all know: Ps. 27:4 – “One thing have I desired . . . ” But the verse right before that: “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this will I be confident.” And… Read more »
I don’t think there’s anything to say to this, Pauline, other than Amen and so be it!
Amen Jennifer,
When our prayers are in AGREEMENT with God’s heart they effect change.
John 5:30 NKJV
Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I JUDGE; and My judgment is righteous, because I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN WILL but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
The word JUDGE means: How I think about something; AND WHAT I SAY! Even how I pray.
Matthew 6:10
Matthew 18:18-20
Thank you, Bruce, and bless you!
“How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace; Who brings glad tidings, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, Your God reigns! Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.” Isaiah 52:7-8 NKJV “…How beautiful is the radiant Bride Who waits for her Groom With His light in her eyes How beautiful when humble hearts give The fruit of pure lives So that others might live…” Twila Paris – “How Beautiful” “Blessed… Read more »
Tammy, this is just lovely! xoxoxoxo
I agree with Jennifer. Lovely