The Power of Prayer (3 of 3)
Open Your Bible
Philippians 4:6-7, James 5:13-16, Psalm 131:1-3, Romans 8:26-30
BY Guest Writer
Text: Philippians 4:6-7, James 5:13-16, Psalm 131:1-3, Romans 8:26-30
The question has been posed to me almost daily in this season: “What do you want to do?”
My husband and I are in a crux we didn’t plan for, one that necessitates a job change and possibly a move—and quick. There are three solid options on the table, one of which is to stay here in Denver, in the home we love, in the city we felt God calling us to a year ago. The others take us to the opposite side of the country, near where we both grew up. Neither option to move back east seems best today. I don’t know what to ask for, and I don’t know what to pray. My prayers lately resemble something like this: I don’t know, but You do, so just do it quick—even if it hurts.
I feel weak of praying. I don’t mean tired of praying, I mean weak in it. Praying feels like the weakest thing I could do and the most necessary. Never in all my life have I felt so out of control of my own life and person—and I’m weak for it. I feel bruised, sucked in, spit out, worn over, trampled, even crushed. I am like one with dry mouth trying to ask for a drink of water; more desirous than ever, and unable to form the words with a parched throat and cracked lips.
My will is strong, my body is weary.
In these moments, I’m tempted to keep quiet because God knows my prayers anyway; He knows the words I’d say if I could. In Romans 8:26, we read, “The Spirit also joins to help in our weakness.” It would seem more fitting if it said, “The Spirit will carry us along in our weakness,” but it doesn’t. It says, “joins.”
The Holy Spirit comes to us, gets down in the trench with us, imbeds inside us, melds against and with us, and helps in our weakness. This changes things. A parched person need not cry out for water if one who is satiated joins her pleas, groaning alongside her for what she needs.
This is what the Holy Spirit does for me and you. He dips down and hears those earnest and difficult cries, and He, who knows the will of God, takes every petition to the Father who gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11). Our prayers are not powerful because we ourselves are powerful. The power of prayer lies in the power of God.
I do not know what to pray for as I should, but I know the Holy Spirit joins with me. He knows what I need better than I ever could.
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:6-7
Lore Wilbert is the Director of Community and Formation at Park Church, Denver, and writer at Sayable.net. Find her on twitter @lorewilbert.
133 thoughts on "The Power of Prayer (3 of 3)"
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Phil 4:6-7 is the memory verse this week for the 4th grade class I teach on Wednesdays! I love reading the comments after the Devo to see what everyone is going through and how God is working in our lives!
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I get this. I love this! These are some of the scriptures I have clung to as I navigate the difficult road of having a daughter with a fairly new diagnosis of cancer. I’ve been in the trenches- not knowing what to pray or how to pray. With cancer, it makes you realize how weak one really is and how you really have no control of anything. But God has been so faithful to reveal Himself to us in the midst of this journey. We serve a loving, compassionate, and faithful God that is full of mercy and grace! to God be the glory.
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Praying for you and your daughter Randie! BlBlBless
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Blessings! (Typo before)
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Praying for you and your daughter.
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Prayer is so much more than closing your eyes and folding your hands but a connection between you and the creator of all, he chose you and he LOVES you!!!
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Amen
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Amen!
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This was such an encouragement to me today. It was exactly what I needed to hear and I’m so glad it was in my devo. God was really working in me today and I’m so blessed to be apart of this sweet community where I can share that.
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This pretty much reached into the depths of my heart today and brought forth tears that have needed to be released for some time now. And it’s just so fitting and like God that as I read this the song “Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle began playing on the radio at the exact same time. It was the first time I’d ever heard this song. Sometimes I just can’t get over how kind and faithful God is~
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Philippians 4:6 is a verse I always go back to. I’m struggling with anxiety at the moment and although I find it extremely exhausting each day, I know that God is with me and he won’t burden with me anything more than I can handle. As well as doing this study every day I’ve also started a prayer diary so that I can make my prayer requests known to God. He listens and the Holy Spirit helps us in these times of need and for that I am eternally grateful!
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As someone who also has major anxiety, I just want to point out that God has never promised to not give us more than we can handle. I have routinely felt overwhelmed and totally spent. God alone can help us, it is not by our strength. It is by his grace that we make it through each day, not by our own efforts. He IS with us each day, carrying our burdens. “Cast your cares/anxiety/burden on him” What a relief! Much love to you :)
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Though God knows that we all fall short of His glory, how amazing it is that He still has our backs. He gives us His Word to teach us how to live [and live well in full abundance]. When we need to be saved or need a fresh start, He sends us Jesus [in every moment we need Him]. Even when we don’t know what to pray or how we should pray, He sends us the Holy Spirit to join us in our weakness and make pleas for us before the Father. He knows our inadequacies and all our empty, dark spaces, yet He gives us every single thing we need through Himself, to make us whole. Praise God!!
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Perfectly said, Tiari! Thank you so much for sharing your wise words!!
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Thanks for pointing out that the Spirit ‘jointly’ helps us. I hadn’t seen that before.
us. us
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