John 14:15-17 "If your love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
Recently, I have been starting my prayers by saying, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I/we come before you..." It hearkens back to my upbringing in the Catholic church where prayers begin with, In the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit." This invokes the Holy Trinity into prayer. In the Protestant church prayers often begin with, "Heavenly Father, we come to you in Jesus name." Sometimes prayer begins with Dear God or Dear Jesus. It really doesn't matter how a prayer begins as long as the intention and reverence are there.
Many years ago, my family attended a Pentecostal church. This was a very new and different experience for us because there were a lot of supernatural occurrences. People pray in the Spirit (praying in tongues), and are are slain in the Spirit (where you are overcome by the Holy Spirit's power and fall prone) The services in this church were very long, yet it never felt as if they were. The pastor often had an extended time of prayer from the altar and also would stop a service to have the congregation pray for one another. Being a part of this kind of powerful worship left an indelible mark on me. No, I never spoke in tongues or experienced being slain in the spirit, but worshiping there opened my soul up to more metaphysical spiritual experience. It was during that time the pretty little box I kept God in was torn asunder. I will be forever grateful to God for leading us to that powerful church and beautiful family of believers, because my faith was opened up to the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit.
I have looked up many different ideas about praying in the Spirit, but I think the simplest explanation is that it means to be led by the Holy Spirit in prayer; to open oneself up to be guided and to listen in full submission and faith.
Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God"
Opening up to praying in the Spirit has made me bolder in my faith and in prayer. When I pray in this way my heart, soul, and mind are all engaged in communication with my Savior. Sometimes tears flow, sometime laughter, sometimes I may lift my voice in song, and sometimes I become breathless with awe, Every time, however, praying in the Spirit is always powerful; for He dwells with us and in us.
Jude 1:20 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit."
Ephesians 6:8 "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplications for all the saints."
1 comment:
We will have to talk more about that experience Lehann. The charismatic movement in the Catholic Church is very similar and while sometimes overwhelming, can be extremely powerful.
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