There have been many times these last weeks where I have felt so burdened and heavy by all that is going on in our world.  At times, I have felt desperate; not sure even how to pray.  But then, by God’s grace, I call to mind who He is and who I am in Him and there I find myself praying asking Him for help, praising Him for who He is, and praising Him for who I am in Him.  He knows.  He is with us. He has all of this in His hands.  So with that, let’s look at why we pray.

1. We pray because it is how we communicate with God.
2. We pray because Jesus prayed and He expects us to pray.
3. We pray because God grants us the power to pray in the Spirit. 

A robust prayer life is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all kinds of occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord’s people.

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.

James 5:16 says, 

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 

How does the prayer of righteous person have great power as it is working?

John Piper gave a sermon in 2001 on praying in the Spirit.  He said, We pray “in the Holy Spirit” when we take our stand on the cross of Christ and trust God for His help by the Spirit. In other words, when you admit that without the help of the Spirit you cannot pray as you ought, and then you consciously depend on the Spirit to help you pray, then you are praying in the Holy Spirit. Also, if you live in the Word of God, meditating on it day and night by reading it every day and memorizing portions to carry with you all day and savoring them hour by hour, then your prayers will be shaped by the Word, which means they will be shaped by the Spirit. And that is what it means to pray in the Holy Spirit.” 

Who is God? He is our Helper.

Who are you in Him? You are Helped.

This is good news for us in Christ.  We are helped in every situation as we bring our requests to Him.  If you are struggling, PRAY!  He is willing and able to help.  Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” If you have felt burdened recently, may you run to the Lord, be still before Him, and pray.

Here are the songs, “Heaven in the Real World” by Steven Curtis Chapman, https://youtu.be/npDICY0SQ-I  “Spirit Speak” by Jonathan and Emily Martin, https://youtu.be/vnD6zNpU0Is “Come to Me All You Who Are Weary.” https://youtu.be/35WOSrfT7Cw

Blessings to you.