82 - Betsy – “How can I tell if I'm praying in the Spirit?”
“You said in your videos about Spiritual Warfare Part 3 that just because you speak in tongues, that doesn’t mean your speaking from the Spirit. How would I be able to tell if I’m speaking/praying from the Spirit?”
Praying in the Spirit: Beyond Empty Words
The Apostle Paul encourages us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Eph 6:18). But what does it truly mean to pray in the Spirit? Betsy in today’s recording was confused about the connection between speaking in tongues and praying in the Spirit.
All Christians are to pray in the Spirit, even though not all Christians have the gift of tongues (1 Cor 12:30). Praying in the Spirit goes beyond simply uttering words. It's about aligning our hearts with God's will, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our petitions. We have two natures within us: the flesh and the spirit. "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want" (Gal 5:17). Our fleshly desires often cloud our judgment, leading us to pray for things, not by the Spirit, which are not in line with God's purpose.
How then can we discern God's voice amidst the clamor of our own desires? One powerful tool is God's Word. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we begin to understand God's character, His promises, and His will. As we pray, we can then align our requests with His revealed truth. "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Rom 8:14).
Praying in the Spirit is not about mystical experiences or eloquent pronouncements. It's about a heart posture of humility and surrender. When we come before God with a genuine desire to seek His will above our own, He empowers us to pray according to His heart. Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Mat 26:39), we too can offer prayers that are in perfect harmony with the Spirit's leading.
As we grow in our relationship with God, our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit increases. We learn to recognize His gentle nudges, His quiet whispers, and His clear directives. Praying in the Spirit becomes a natural outflow of a heart that is intimately connected to the Father. May we all strive to cultivate this deep connection, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our prayer lives into powerful instruments of God's will.
