Holy Praying

Today’s Verse:

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ~Jude 20

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Perhaps, the one area of the Christian life that most people struggle with is in the area of prayer. Finding time to pray, knowing how to pray, being consistent in praying, and seeing answers to our prayers can be a struggle for some Christians. Maybe you have read Jude 20 many times and have asked the question, “What does it mean to pray in the Holy Ghost?”

There is a contrast.

In the previous verses, Jude describes those who are mockers of the faith and says that they “separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” These are in opposition to the Christian faith, and their lives are devoid of the Holy Spirit. They are not saved and want nothing to do with the spiritual things of God. The society in which we live is characterized as being ungodly and unholy.

There is the command.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith....” Our emphasis is to build up our spiritual faith. Our life is to be always in an upward state of construction. We are to be in the Word of God, which is able to build us up. We are to be building upon the Lord Jesus Christ. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

There is the condition.

“...Praying in the Holy Ghost.” In addition to the Word of God is the importance of praying in the Holy Ghost. Praying in the Holy Ghost is spiritual praying. It is the Spirit helping our infirmities by making intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. It is praying that is distinguished from heathen praying. Heathen praying is praying as a ritual and formality instead of a relationship and fervency.

There is the cleansing.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is with a cleansed heart. Notice, we are reminded of those who have not the Holy Spirit and the fact that we are to emphasize a most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost. The emphasis is on holiness. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” We can only approach God’s throne with a heart and life that is clean.

There is the closeness.

Praying in the Holy Ghost requires that we keep ourselves in the love of God. Our praying is to be motivated by love and not retaliation. Our praying is to be God-centric. Our requests are to be driven by a loving desire for God’s best. This kind of praying seeks to have God’s love completed in the life of others.

There is the confidence.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is enabled praying. It is praying with boldness for God to work on our behalf. It is praying in faith and believing that there is nothing God cannot do. It is coming to the throne of grace and receiving mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

There is the community.

It considers that we are praying on behalf of others. It is interceding for sinners to be saved and saints to be sanctified.

There is the coming.

It is praying that is in anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus. “Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ....” It is praying that is focused and with intensity for a God-glorifying answer.

Are you praying in the Holy Ghost? Take time today to evaluate what kind of praying you are doing. Ask the Lord to help you conform to this exhortation, and watch the transformation that God will make in your praying.

Have a prayer-centric God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Kings 12-14

#Jude #HolySpirit #Intercession #Prayer