Tom Barnard

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know

what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us

with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”  (Romans 8:26 NLT)

“Though in its beginning prayer is so simple that the feeblest child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One. The powers of the world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfillment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation. And for this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are. It is only the Spirit of God can enable us to do it aright.”

Andrew Murray – With Christ in the School of Prayer

Murray also said, “Jesus never taught His disciples to preach, only to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well.”

I bought a cordless power drill at a garage sale recently. Everything was there. It came with two re-chargeable batteries and a charging unit. In a few minutes I had it up and running. But if I were a twelve-year-old living in a third-world country and had never seen a cordless power drill, I would have been stumped. “Where is the cord?” is the first question I would have asked. And the next question would have been, “Where are the instructions?”

Why is it, then, when it comes to prayer, we seldom seek help in learning how to pray? Who needs instructions in how to pray? Answer: We all do. And who is it that can provide all the help we need? Answer: The Holy Spirit.

There is a right way to pray. And God’s Holy Sprit—the Spirit of Christ—will show us how. If we ask.

Heavenly Father, I believe you always hear me when I pray. But many times I stumble along--unsure about what your will is in the matters I bring to you. I want to be more effective in how I pray and for what I pray. I need your help. I ask that you send the Spirit to help me out of this distress. If the Spirit shows me the direction, I will follow. Thanks for listening to me today. Amen.