Matthew 6:9-10
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Have you ever had a situation that is so beyond your measure of faith? Or have you been asked to pray for someone where you know if you prayed the way the person was asking you to, you would grieve the Holy Spirit? Many years ago, a gentleman subtly dragged a woman to the front of the church and asked me to pray for them with specifics regarding their relationship. I felt a check in my spirit that what he was asking was not what the woman wanted. It was not a normal situation by any means. At that moment, I asked God, how do you want me to pray? I felt I heard him say, “Pray for my will”. I was able to cover the situation simply by praying that God’s will would be accomplished in every aspect of their lives, their relationship, and their future. I could tell it wasn’t what the man had expected, but he left thanking me nonetheless. I didn’t know the details of their situation, but God did. The Holy Spirit was there interceding with us. I was grateful to have his guidance and a clear conscience of what I had asked the Lord to do.
So many times we have things to pray for that seem so big we have no idea how to pray. We may have covered it from every angle and have no more English words to pray. We may not even know how to pray in line with God’s heart because we don’t have a full understanding of the situation. Praying God’s will is so comforting. He has all the information. He sees the details and the big picture. He knows the ramifications of every outcome and he always has the best interest of all parties in mind.
We also have the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26-28 says, “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. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” The Holy Spirit’s prayers for us are perfect because he knows the perfect will of God.
Some of you may have a personal prayer language. A prayer language is a gift from the Holy Spirit that allows us to pray in a heavenly language called the gift of tongues. You may have a word or a phrase that you repeat over and over. Or you may have what sounds like a fluent language. When we use our prayer language we are praying prayers that align with God’s heart and his will. Even though we may not understand what we are saying, when we use our prayer language, we are strengthening ourselves in the Lord, edifying our spirit, and agreeing with God. I often find that when I begin my time praying in my prayer language, the Holy Spirit then gives me words in English to pray that I would not have known to pray before.
God gives us multiple ways to come into agreement with his will. Whether it’s through praying scripture, listening for his voice and receiving words of wisdom, knowing the Holy Spirit is interceding on our behalf, using our prayer language, or simply asking for his will to be accomplished, God is with us every step of the way. He desires to see our needs met and answer our prayers. He loves when we seek him and align with his will.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, how do you want me to pray for the things I am interceding for today? What have I been praying that does not come into agreement with God’s will? What spiritual practices do you want me to exercise today as I pray for your will? Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.
Prayer:
Father, thank you that there is nothing beyond your scope of reach or understanding. Thank you for always having a strategy and a solution to every problem. Lord, I marvel at your wisdom. I delight in your will. I confess there are times when I pray from my will and my understanding, but I acknowledge your ways are greater. Your understanding is higher. I submit my will and my desires to yours. Teach me to pray in line with your will so when I ask for something you will do it. Lord, I give you my tongue. If you have a prayer language for me, I ask that you loose my tongue, that I might pray through that gift. I ask, Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment. Help me to hear your voice and pray your words. Help me always to use your love as the filter through which I pray. Thank you that when I don’t know what to pray, Holy Spirit, you intercede on my behalf. I take great comfort knowing that you are working all things together for the good of those who love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Praying God’s Will
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.”
1 John 5:14-15
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
James 1:5-6
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”