TargetPoint Vol 13 of 31Today's Verse/Thought: WATCHING-Spiritual Prayer
Romans 8: 26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps . . . for we know not what we should pray . . . but the Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Life Implication:
My pastor often speaks of FOUR DIFFERENT WILLS in this world: God's will; the will of natural laws (e.g. gravity - so don't jump!); the will of the flesh which is man's sinful nature; and the will of the devil.
As we continue on this subject of WATCHING in prayer, we must learn to RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT to HELP US DISCERN whether or not the will of our flesh or the will of the devil is distracting us from our focus. The Holy Spirit will also HELP US DISCERN what are the NEEDS OF OTHERS AND OF THIS WORLD we live in. Each of us has been given the help of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct. This guidance is best cultivated in the WATCHING aspect of prayer.
Twice in Scripture, Christians are admonished to PRAY IN THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:18 and Jude 20). Of course, praying in the Spirit, means vastly different things to different Christians. But no matter what, we each need to seek to develop a much enlarged RECOGNITION of the Holy Spirit's power as it relates to personal prayer.
God earnestly desires to reveal SPECIAL SECRETS (things that only He can know or see), to help us pray more specifically for particular needs. To WATCH in prayer is to open our spiritual eyes to perceive these secrets, and this can only be done by PERMITTING THE HOLY SPIRIT to enlighten us during prayer.
Life Application:
Before we move on to the privileged aspect in prayer called Intercession, our eyes must be open to the needs of others, as well as ourselves.
EARNESTLY REQUEST that God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, give you spiritual alertness, eyes wide open, and ears to hear.
MAKE IT A PRACTICE to draw out the needs of others: (Hey! . . . you don't look too happy . . . what's wrong?). PRAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR SENSITIVITY to the news of the day and to people around you.
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Intercession, The Act of Earnest Appeal