Praying in the Spirit for God’s Will and the Gospel

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always praying for all the saints.” —EPHESIANS 6:18

Praying in the Spirit is about the furtherance of the Gospel. It is to pray with the mind of the Spirit and from the perspective of the Spirit, which is what gives us confidence when coming before God in prayer. 

The first battle the Israelites fought was against the Amalekites. God told Moses to go to the top of the mountain with the staff of God in his hand, and to keep it raised above the battlefield below. When Moses tired and the staff lowered, the Amalekites were prevailing, but when he raised it again, the Israelites prevailed. From the mountaintop, Moses gained God’s perspective, which gave him confidence, and he saw for himself that victory is never won, but received.

We would be less pleading in our prayers if we saw from God’s perspective, and far more thankful for God’s work in this world and in our lives. Praying in the Spirit is allowing our minds and our spirits to be aligned with God. We are told to pray without ceasing, and that is a constant disposition of bringing God into everything we do, seeking His will, His perspective, His wisdom and insight. 

As Christians, we need to be connecting with God, and become avenues and channels that allow divine access to people who are still in bondage to sin, and whose hearts and minds have yet to be opened to the Spirit of God. Those who have traced and tabulated the history of revivals worldwide have always discovered that behind the revivals were people who were praying. 

In His sovereignty, God chose to give humankind dominion over the earth, and He has not withdrawn that responsibility. In the exercise of it, it is through our praying in the Spirit that we give God access to accomplishing His purpose through us. Our role is not just about the physical and practical, but there is a spiritual dimension that we must understand if our praying is going to be effective and fruitful. It’s a spiritual battle in which Satan has a solid grip on this world that cannot be removed purely by human activity. It has to be a spiritual work of God, and our praying plays a crucial role.

God is our heavenly Father and the more we speak earnestly with Him, the deeper our intimacy with Him. “Pray in the Spirit,” Paul says, “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Pray from God’s perspective with confidence and trust, but don’t conclude that prayer is powerful. It is God, alone, who is powerful and on the receiving end of prayers given in the Spirit.

Dear Lord, keep me mindful that my praying always be in the Spirit, seeking Your will and purpose in all things.

Am I praying from God’s perspective, seeking His will above all else?