Knowing how...

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to Hispurpose. Romans 8:26-28

We know not how to pray...and it's ok!
Praying? You mean talking to God?
Outloud?  Yes. But in many cases praying in silence.  Intimidating? Afraid to? Never have before?

I was writing this blog a moment ago and evidently God had changed His mind and it crashed. So we write it a bit differently.

The verses remained lol. 

In recent years we have seen many many answers to prayer.  Jesus taught His Disciples how to pray.  Gave them a template...but not something to be mindlessly repeated.  That's where the Jewish leaders blew it.  Droning off big words and sayings that meant nothing.

Jesus knows your heart. 

He knows your pain and heartaches.

He knows what lead up to that sin you gave into.  Yes even that.

But more importantly like the opening passages...it's ok to not know exactly what to say or how to say it.  We have the Holy Spirit within us, for those who are saved.   He understands everything about us. He gets it. 

Praying is a conversation from our soul to God's Throne.  Nobody in between.  No mediator. 

How does the second passage tie into the first?  Prayer and where your heart is.

After the ascension of Jesus to Heaven,  the Spirit came down upon those who believed.  The Apostles were the first but soon it spread.  All who believed in Jesus received the Holy Spirit. 

When our hearts are inline with what God wants, amazing things happen. 

I will never state that I have arrived at being a mature Christian.  As long as I exist I am a work in progress.

But when your life reflects what God's desire for it is...you can see where He gives you opportunities you never dreamed possible. 

Many years ago my work life pushed the extremes of stressful.  I even had a nervous breakdown.  God provided several months of time off from needing to work in order to begin the healing process.  My return to working at all began with learning something new. Which I really do like doing.  It was a small business and over the course of 5 years He brought me back around to where I had left. 6 employers later.

Praying is what connects the years of healing and struggles.  Prayer is what changed my heart.  There were a few times when I thought my heart was ripped in two.  But the truth is I was in need of Spiritual surgery.  God had to take out some things in me to give the right parts of me room to grow 

I am indeed back where the breakdown occurred.  To say it's been an easy transition would be a lie.  6 months later it's gotten better.  At first I kept wondering if so-and-so would come around the corner to yell at me. But the problem people are all long gone.  Prayer did it.
Prayer and putting my faith where my mouth is.  Reprioritizing.  This blog. A Facebook group for Men of God.  Time every day in God's Word.  Learning more through devotionals.  It a process. 

Now there's where Spiritual learning differs from the world.  It's a process.

It isn't going to happen in 4 minutes in a microwave.  It isn't a push of a button and 2 minutes later you have a cup of coffee.

Most spend 12 or so years in school.  If you are ambitious then maybe college.  But learning about God's Word you will spend eternity going over and still find something new you haven't seen before.

Prayer isn't a grocery list.  Jesus had issues with the Jewish leaders who mindlessly repeated big words or prayers that really meant nothing to the person saying them.  It's personal. 

Realize that when you pray, Jesus shows up. Every time, every place, every moment of every day.  You stop and pray, He is there. He comes to you.

So have a conversation.  Which, by its definition, is a two way deal.  Talking and listening.  If you don't know what to say it's ok.  Like that passage from Romans.  We don't need to know how to word it.

But also realize that same Spirit within you knows if you are intentionally holding onto a sin that you won't let go of.

You want Jesus to hear you, you have to let go of that. It becomes a barrier between you and God.  So start your prayers with an admission of your sins, ask forgiveness, turn away from it whatever it is.  Stay away from whatever it was. The power of the Cross is within you. You have the ability to stay away from it.  Things might still happen but you will learn how to rely more upon God to deal with it.

There is much joy to be had in a life that delights in the Lord.  It begins with prayer and obedience. 

The answers we have seen are beyond my comprehension at times.  I just can't wrap my head around how God is doing it but I know He is the one doing it.

So pray today.  Talk to Jesus today. 

He's waiting.