Praying in the Spirit

Over fifty years ago, the venerable English Methodist preacher, Samuel Chadwick, wrote, "The biggest thing God ever did for me was to teach me to pray in the Spirit."(1)

The inspired apostle Paul exhorted the Ephesian believers, "pray in the Spirit."(2) What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

To pray in the Spirit does not mean to pray in tongues.

To listen to some, to pray in the Spirit is to pray in "tongues." Oh how we love to impose our doctrinal biases on Scripture!

With all due respect to my Pentecostal/Charismatic brethren, I challenge anyone to show me from Scripture where it teaches that to pray in the Spirit is to pray in some unknown tongue. It simply does not teach this.

Would any knowledgeable Christian believe our Lord while on earth ever offered a prayer that wasn't prayed in the Spirit? Of course not.

Were Christ's prayers Spirit inspired prayers prayed in some unknown tongue? If so, kindly show me from the Word.

I don't mean to be argumentative here, or judgmental towards my Pentecostal/Charismatic brethren. You are part of my family, and I love you in the Lord.

Neither am I denying what may be the reality of some in the body of Christ of an authentic biblical experience that is often misunderstood (praying in tongues). But let's save that for another time.

What I am saying is that the Scriptures do not equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues.

To pray in the Spirit does not mean to pray loudly.

To hear some pray, one would think God is deaf. This is not to say there will not be occasions when praying, when our spirit is so engaged in prayer—especially private prayer—that it is quite natural to cry out to the Lord. After all, this was our Lord's experience on at least one occasion. "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death ..."(3)

To converse with God is to talk with a Friend. I would just as soon my friends, as a habit, didn't shout at me!

To pray in the Spirit is not to pray repetitiously nor endlessly.

Our Lord teaches us, "But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."(4)

Jesus did not say it was wrong to repeat prayers; He did say vain repetitions are wrong. And He explains what He meant by vain repetitions: words repeatedly prayed which one thinks have merit in repeating.

This not only covers the "Hail Marys"—it includes any prayer mantra.

God does not respond to prayer formulas. Our Father in heaven bends His ear low to listen to prayers offered from the heart.

There are times when the soul wants to linger in the presence of God for lengthy periods—in intercession and communion. But lest we forget, the fire which descended on Mt. Carmel came in response to a prophet's prayer which—in its recorded version—was no longer than sixty-three words (in the KJV).

Now on the positive side. What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

We are praying in the Spirit when we pray helplessly.

O. Hallesby said on this subject: "Prayer consists simply in telling God day by day in what ways we are helpless.... Only he who is helpless can truly pray.... Helplessness united with faith produces prayer."(5)

When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were surrounded on one occasion by the Lord's enemies, the God-fearing king prayed a heart-felt prayer of helplessness: "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."(6)

This is to pray in the Spirit.

We are praying in the Spirit when we pray submissively.

It is a contradiction to address Jesus as Lord while at the same time insisting our requests be answered according to our will.

No matter how saintly we believe ourselves to be, we are not omniscient. Every request needs to be undergirded with a "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."

We are praying in the Spirit when we pray believingly and boldly.

Our prayers ought always to be offered in faith to a God who is faithful. The answer may come surprisingly packaged, but that's all right. For we are confident our Lord will answer as He chooses best.

Occasionally the Spirit will boldly pray through us. In 1540, Martin Luther's friend, Fredrick Myconius became deathly ill. He was expected to die within a short time. One night he wrote Luther a fond farewell.

Upon receiving the letter, Luther sent back the following reply: "I command you in the name of God to live because I will have need of you in the work of reforming the church.... The Lord will never let me hear that you are dead, but will permit you to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God.

In just a short time Myconius was well again. And, true enough, he survived Luther by two months.(7)

I recall standing by a saintly dying parishioner years ago in an intensive care unit. Her blood pressure had just dropped alarmingly low. I'll never forget that day when the Spirit enabled me to pray, "Lord, I pray you will allow ________ to live as long as I'm her pastor. The church and I need her prayers desperately!" Almost immediately God healed her and spared her.

Bold prayers may not be frequent, but they do happen.

We are praying in the Spirit when we pray attentively.

In other words, if prayer is anything, it is listening to the voice of the Spirit coming through His Word, impressing His truth upon us. It is the Spirit saying, "This is the way ..."

Back to 2 Chronicles 20. Following Jehoshaphat's prayer of helplessness, he waited ... and he listened. Then came the Word of the Lord through Jahaziel the prophet.

With those we have known intimately for many years, incessant talk is not necessary, or even desired. In the company of strangers conversation is often forced and unnatural. Not so with intimates.

God's greatest saints are practiced listeners, not garrulous gabs.

Finally,

We are praying in the Spirit when we pray passionately.

In addressing cold-hearted petitioners, Jesus said, "This people draws near to Me with their mouth ... but their heart is far from me."(8)

God desires His people to pray with their heart. He listens to only heart-prayed prayers.

This is something of what it means to pray in the Spirit. Can we all now pray, Lord, teach us to pray—in the Spirit?

– Soli Deo Gloria –  

1. Samuel Chadwick in The Path of Prayer
2. Ephesians 6:18, NIV
3. Hebrews 5:7, NIV
4. Matthew 6:7, NKJV
5. O. Hallesby, Prayer
6. 2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV
7. Told by O. Hallesby, Prayer
8. Matthew 15:8, NKJV