Pray at All Times in the Spirit

Prayer in the Spirit will give us far more than we could ever ask or think. Our reason cannot grasp the scope of those blessings for which the Spirit is groaning, although His groanings do enable us to sense the direction in which He is headed. Indeed, we don’t even know what we should pray for before the Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible sighs.

The one who is unaccustomed to praying must, from the very outset, simply discipline himself to pray. Later on, the Spirit Himself will work in him to pray. The Spirit works in us to pray inwardly—without words. But then He conveys these prayers of the heart to the realm of our understanding, to be employed by that understanding. Such unceasing prayer increases our content of life and multiplies our treasures in heaven. Patience and meekness come automatically, because the Lord is near.

Prayer for all the saints is answered with love and care in the Spirit. All that is harsh, unsympathetic, and intolerant disappears. Our fellowship becomes more fervent, and our longing always to be together increases. We have come to know something of this, and for that very reason we agree wholeheartedly with our dear Savior when He prays, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20-21.

Amen.