How to Pray with God's Power...Continued from page 1

1. Lack of concern.  By nature, you and I tend to be lazy and lethargic when it comes to prayer.  The flesh does not want to pray, but the Spirit does.  So in our moment of weakness He comes along beside us and helps us want to pray. 

2. Lack of communion.  Many people don't pray because they feel like there is a distance between them and God.  But Galatians 4:6 says, "...God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father."  The Holy Spirit helps us sense God's presence-the closeness of our communion with Him-when we pray.

3. Lack of content.  As humans, not only do we not naturally know what to pray for, we don't even know how to pray!  So what does the Holy Spirit do?  He teaches us what to say.  How does the Holy Spirit do this?  By teaching us to listen.  When we listen to God in prayer...when we stay long enough at the place in prayer...God is able to clarify His will and teach us what to say when we pray.

4. Lack of capability.  We lack the strength, we lack the energy, and we lack the steadfastness to pray.  But the Spirit of God comes along and energizes our prayer lives.  When we worship God in the Spirit, we are invigorated!

5. Lack of concentration.  Is it strange to you how anything and everything will distract you when you finally try to pray?  I'm convinced the devil will do anything he can to keep us from talking to God.  So the Spirit of God does warfare against the enemy to help us concentrate when we pray.