Timeless Truths ................................................................Pages

Romans 8:26: "And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought, the but Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;"

Does praying come easy for you? When you talk with God, do you struggle with what to say, or how to say it? Do you know that the Holy Spirit is working during our sweet times of prayer when we close our eyes and whisper our hearts to heaven?

In the New Testament, Jesus taught His disciples to pray like this: "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)

Jesus intended this prayer to be a guide or

Praying...

What does the Bible say?

model for our prayers, which shows us a range of subjects to include, such as to begin with who God is, and to

praise Him for who He is. Remember how great and awesome God is compared to our problems! Continue on in your prayer, expressing your desire to submit to His rule and reign in your life. Pray God's will over your mind, emotions and everything else in your life. It's not your will, but the will of God that needs to be done. Then pray about your needs, reminding yourself that God will provide your every need, providing it is within His will for you.

Always remember to regularly confess your sins to God, and to ask for His forgiveness, and to help us forgive others who have sinned against us in the same manner that He has forgiven us of our sins.

Remember God's grace and mercy towards us,

and in return, show that grace and mercy toward others. Acknowledge your spiritual battles to God, asking for protection or escape from Satan's traps. Finally, pray realizing that everything we are and everything we do is for God's glory, not ours. Chapter 8 of Romans shows us the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. And so much of that work is comforting believers who are in the midst of trials and suffering. It is to be expected that in this fallen world, believers will endure various types of suffering from time to time in different ways. The Bible is filled with assurances that God comes to rescue the weak, those who can't protect themselves, or who are oppressed, poor, or despised. We learn to cope with our present suffering by realizing our certain future glory. That hope of glory helps us to cope here and now, helps us to bear up under our present suffering.

Just as we are helped in our suffering, we are also helped in our weakness by the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity and is connected with the Father and the Son beyond what we can imagine. We remain dependent upon Him that His power may be perfected in our weakness.

In the sense that we do not know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit teaches us to understand the Word and what the will of God is. When we set our minds on the things of the Spirit, and by the Spirit put the things of the flesh to death, we make ourselves available and teachable. He is then able to intercede for us in our prayers through wordless groans. Sometimes, I am

so troubled I can't pray, for my thoughts are all over the place. These are the times that I need to lean on the Holy Spirit to help me.

In accordance with the will of God, the Holy Spirit searches our hearts and allows access to God through faith. Another amazing fact is that, just as Jesus prays for us in heaven, the Holy Spirit is praying for us here on earth in our hearts!

Besides praying for us, the Holy Spirit is our friend and also helps us bear our burdens. Through helping us, He comforts us, speaks to us, and strengthens us.

What a gift that God has given us... the gift of the Holy Spirit and what comfort we get knowing that the Spirit acts on our behalf every time we pray!

Even though sometimes we struggle in our prayer life, there are a few things we can do to help us grow in that area. One thing is to change our approach - try praying out loud if you normally pray silently, or if you often pray in words, try putting it to song. Also, listening to how other people pray may help you in your own prayer life. When I first met my husband, Rob, I did not know how to even begin to pray, but we prayed together on the phone each morning, and by listening to him, I eventually felt comfortable and confident enough to pray what was on my mind and in my heart. It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to share your thoughts, your day, your failures and your joys with the Lord. It is especially comforting knowing that nothing is surprising to God, because nothing is hidden from Him; He knows everything about us, our every thought, our every deed, so when we confess, we know that He already knows and is very merciful to forgive us of our sins when we ask Him.

It really helps to have a prayer partner as well. Rob and I pray together on a daily basis, and we find that what one of us forgets to bring to the Lord in prayer, the other will remember to do.

Rob and I like to recite a couple of our favorite Psalms as well, and one of them is Psalm 91. In troublesome times, we gain much comfort in assuring ourselves that, "He who dwells in the

Praying...

shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!' For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My Name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."" (Psalm 91:1-16)

Other Psalms, such as Psalm 103 reminds us to praise the Lord and to not forget all of His benefits. Psalm 62 is a wonderful psalm to pray over someone going through a challenging time, and of course, Psalm 23 always reminds us of the goodness of God and how we can trust in Him. God is not looking for a beautiful speech when we pray to Him, nor does He need us to babble on and on. Try praying as if you were talking with your best friend. Prayer provides a way for us to be intimate with our Lord, to praise Him for all that He has done for us and continues to do every day. Come to Him as a child of the Most High and express your every need and care...He is just a prayer away!