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Are we listening to the Spirit?
Message
#14 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God in order that we might become effective intercessors, praying for others. He tells us we are to "pray in the Spirit" with "all kinds of prayers and requests" for "all of the saints." [Ephesians 6:18] There is a sense in which "praying in the Spirit" is listening in the Spirit--something I don’t do enough of when I pray. My tendency is to do all the talking, but prayer isn’t meant to be a monologue. It’s supposed to be a dialogue, very real communication with the Lord. That requires listening as we pray. We bring a person or concern to the Lord, and quietly give His Spirit a moment to impress us with a certain truth or direction for prayer--and then we pray. It’s similar to our praying with others when they are hesitant to pray for themselves. Have you ever led someone to pray by saying a line, and letting him repeat it? The Holy Spirit can do the same with us, if we pause long enough for Him to get through. We mention someone’s name and circumstance, and wait for a Scripture, an impression or a sense of how to pray. When we receive it, we pray along those lines. Learning to listen and follow the Lord’s lead is one way to ask in His will and not our own.
Pray with me now -- Father, help us learn to listen and follow Your lead as we pray, for we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
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