Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
This is Apostle Paul writing to the church of Ephesus. His goal is for this church to be fit and ready for battle. Specifically, he wants them prepared for the day of evil. Verse 13 would tell us what the day of evil is—when all hell is breaking loose in our lives, where we're like, if it isn't one thing, it's another. We've all experienced that day, and Paul wants us to be ready for that day, and he wants us to stand and be fit for the battle. He says, pray in the Spirit at all times.
What Does It Mean to Pray in the Spirit?
What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? It means we allow the Spirit of God to lead our prayers. When you and I said yes to Jesus, we invited the Holy Spirit to reside in us, and now we have the Holy Spirit residing in each and every one of us because we're believers. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to lead us when we pray. That's how we pray in the Spirit.
There's moments in my life where, honestly, I go to pray and I have no words, and I feel so broken and I'm like, Lord, I have no words for You right now. It's in those moments I'm reminded of the fact that the Holy Spirit is called the helper in the Bible, and that's very interesting. When I don't know how to pray, I ask the Holy Spirit for help, and the Holy Spirit helps me pray.
Another way that we can pray in the Spirit is by filling our minds with the truth of God's Word. When we don't know how to pray and we read God's Word, we fill our minds with God's Word. We can pray the Word of God. When we do that, you and I are praying the perfect will of God.
Prayer Isn't About Formula—It's About Heart
People often ask, how do I pray? Is there a formula to prayer? There really isn't. It's not even so much about how we pray. God just wants to hear from us. He's a loving Father that delights in hearing from us. There's no formula to prayer. God just wants us to pour our hearts out to Him.
In fact, Jesus said, "Why do you honor me with your lips? But your hearts are so far from me." He's talking to the Pharisees. Why did He do that? Because it was just a lot of lip service, but it didn't start from the heart. Prayer begins when we share our hearts with the Lord.
Growing in Prayer
Another way that we can grow in prayer is by surrounding ourselves with people who love to pray. I love being around people who have a passion for prayer. I call them prayer warriors because they love to pray.
I want to encourage you: ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you pray. Fill your mind with the truth of God's Word and get around men and women who love to pray. Here's what we're saying when we pray: Lord, I need You. That's what we're saying. When you and I refuse to pray, we're saying, Lord, I don't need You. I could do this on my own.
Here's what honors God. It is a dependence spirit that honors God. I want to encourage you: lean on the Lord and be a praying person.
