COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

HOW TO PRAY?

We receive prayer requests daily, from friends, relatives, and ministry associates. We have a propensity to want for them what they want for themselves. The most natural course for prayer is to come into agreement with them in their prayer requests. But,

What if they are not in agreement with God?

What if their prayers are short-sighted, and circumstantially-driven?

What if they are caught in the immediacy of the moment, and are missing the bigger picture?

Now, this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. - I John 5:14-15.

Well then, how can we know His will?

That is the beginning point of prayer. "Father, what is Your will in this matter?" We need to know His will if we are to confidently petition Him.

We need a rhema word from God. Logos won’t get the job done!

Until we have that living word of revelation, we can only pray with the spirit; we cannot yet pray with understanding (I Corinthians 14:14-15).

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:26-27.

When asked to pray for others, we should inquire of them, "What has God revealed to you about this?" We can agree with them in their faith, IF they have received a faith-producing revelation. If not, then we can ask God for a faith-producing revelation. Short of receiving such a word from God, we are left to praying with the spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede through us.

(Your kingdom come,) Your will be done on the earth as it is in heaven!