Pray What the Spirit is Saying

Daily Devotional

• Podcast

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? Before we answer that question, it is important to state what praying in the Spirit is not. Praying in the Spirit is not being articulate; neither is it going through a laundry list of all that you want God to do. You can do these things and still fail to pray always in the Spirit as Ephesians 6:18 says. When it says pray always in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication, it is communicating that God expects that every prayer we pray to be in the Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit is allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your prayers to the extent that what you say is what the Holy Spirit is saying. Even if you are stuck on a single phrase or sentence for a long while in prayer, it is fine once it is what the Spirit is saying.  It may also involve praying in an “unknown tongue” as mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:14. Again,once it is what the Spirit is saying you are on the right track. One rule for praying in the Spirit is that we must say back to God what His spirit is saying. 

The second rule for praying in the Spirit is that you must be in the Spirit: you can only pray in the Spirit if you are first positioned in the Spirit or His presence. Therefore, before you start interceding in prayer, position yourself in His presence through thanksgiving, worship songs or whatever else it might take so that you can pray what the Spirit is saying.

Praying in the Spirit is important, because when we pray in the Spirit we are certain to pray the will of God based on Romans 8:27, and when we pray the will of God, we know for sure that he will answer our prayers.   

Life Application: Pray always in the Spirit by first positioning yourself in His presence, surrendering to His will and praying only what the Spirit is saying.

Prayer: Lord, I submit to your Spirit. Help me to position myself in your presence so that I pray only what the Spirit bids me. In Jesus’ name, amen.