Help in Prayer

The disciples asked Jesus, ‘Lord, teach us how to pray.’ Matthew 6:1 and today we are in need of the same help. Learning how to pray should not be a cause to worry. It is a chance to have a conversation with our best Friend. It is a time for a blessed communion, not a duty but a pleasure. I used to worry that if I forgot to pray for something or someone or if I didn’t pray enough that thing would not happen. But prayer is not a guilt trip.

It’s not difficult; the Holy Spirit is there to help us. We need to remember as it tells us in Romans 8: 26 ‘The Spirit helps us with groanings that cannot be uttered.’ The Holy Spirit will remember the words and matters that we forget, He will ‘fill in the gaps.’ The results of our prayers for others is not our responsibility; our task is to pray.

Prayer is such a wonderful conversation with God that Its no surprise that we can’t do it without help. When I was young I don’t remember the Holy Spirit being taught or spoken about much. Maybe it was felt my young mind couldn’t cope with the conception of it. This Holy Spirit seems like God in action as He invigorates, guides, prompts and ‘sorts us out.’ And this same Spirit does so much more.

New Beginnings

I’m so grateful that ‘new every morning is God’s love.’ I go to bed realising that I’ve mucked up once again. I’ve not kept the resolutions I made the day before. I’ve done all the things I vowed not to do – lost my temper, been selfish, gone my own way and not the Lord’s. The list could go on and on, failure and defeat.

When I wake each morning I recall my failings of the previous day. As I make my new resolutions I know I won’t keep them. I could despair until I recognise that once again I’m acting under my own strength and once again that doesn’t work. Fortunately God has a short memory and doesn’t keep a record of all my past sins. He doesn’t remember that I’ve failed again and again and God gives me another chance each time. Once again He gives me that chance to follow Him more closely day by day. The dawning of the new morning will give me the opportunity to love Him more dearly. And He doesn’t leave me to struggle on my own, He sends the Holy Spirit to help me.