Different Kinds Of Prayer (Part 11)

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Tuesday August 11, 2009

There are times in our lives when we know we need to pray for a situation, but we're not sure exactly how to pray for it. The Bible tells us that's a good time to pray in tongues:

Romans 8:26,27 (NIV)
26. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans (utterances) that words cannot express. 27. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Here Paul tells us that the Spirit Himself intercedes for us in accordance with God's will with utterances that our own words cannot express. How does He do that?

Acts 2:4 (NIV)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues AS THE SPIRIT ENABLED THEM.

When we pray in tongues, it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to do so, and He intercedes through us! But it is also our own decision whether or not to do it, so the Holy Spirit cannot intercede through us if we don't let Him; much like the Holy Spirit cannot enter a person and give them rebirth if they do not receive Jesus Christ as Lord.

Some believe that spiritual gifts will just happen when God wants them manifested, but the Bible tells us that is not true:

1 Corinthians 14:31,32 (NIV)
31. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

Here, while talking about prophecy, Paul tells us that the spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets! In other words, the prophet himself can choose to speak or be silent. The same is true of speaking in tongues:

Acts 2:4 (NIV)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues AS THE SPIRIT ENABLED THEM.

Notice that the Spirit ENABLED them to speak in tongues, but THEY are the ones who actually did it! The Holy Spirit enables us to do a lot of things, but we never actually take advantage of many of those things! When we don't know what to pray, let's pray in tongues and let the Holy Spirit intercede in accordance with God's will!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Word that tells me so much about You. Help me remember to pray in tongues when I'm not sure what to pray. Help me understand Your Word better so I can allow You to govern my life in every way.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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