When God’s child has a spirit of prayer then he or she does not have to force their soul to pray. Prayer bubbles up spontaneously with a glad heart like a flowing fountain. One with a spirit of prayer ruling their soul does not think in terms of, “I ought to pray”, but instead the desire to pray takes over, and prayer comes forth quickly, spontaneously and freely. This kind of praying is clearly seen in Jesus’ life and Paul’s letters. It was like their prayers gushed forth from an overflowing heart of love for people and with a deep passion for God’s glory. It was the natural expression of their fervent love for and intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father.

A spirit of prayer like this is not a burden or drudgery but rather a delight and a spiritual release. It warms the heart of the one praying as well as blessing the one prayed for. It touches the heart of God when we ask for what is in His heart that He wants to accomplish. For reasons we do not understand God has bound Himself to the prayers of His people. He teaches us that there are things we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2). The Lord Jesus taught us to ask for God’s kingdom to come, our provisions to be given, temptations not to overwhelm us, and deliverance from the evil one (Matt. 6:9-13). The use of the plural “our” rather than the singular “my” teaches us that in God’s family we pray for one another as well as ourselves. We are responsible for one another in His family. An obvious lesson from the lips of our Teacher is that it is necessary to ask in order to receive all God wants to give. Without asking we live far below the wondrous spiritual provisions our loving Father wants to give both to us and to others.

A spirit of prayer is a gift that comes from seeking. If one wants a spirit of prayer then sufficient time alone with the Father cultivates a prayerful attitude and strengthens one’s longing to pray. Praying on every occasion cultivates a spirit of prayer (Eph. 6:18). Developing the habit of praying about everything throughout your day encourages a spirit of prayer (Phil. 4:6). Charles Spurgeon said one should speak with God more than anyone else. Another well-known servant said that when he no longer had the spirit of prayer he went aside to be alone with God until it returned.

Living with a spirit of prayer is living in the Father’s delight. He is well pleased when you want to share His heart and ask very simply for what He wants to do. This refreshes and renews you; this allows His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. And oh, how it blesses others!

JRW

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Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)