The Bible's formula for prayer is: 1. Believers pray TO the Father, 2. THROUGH the Son and 3. IN the Holy Spirit.
Jesus taught us to pray "Our Father Who art is heaven." And Jesus is the way because of His atoning death, burial and victorious resurrection. Jesus said, "No man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
Then, often, we forget the essential role of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit who plays a vital role in our prayer lives. Paul expresses it clearly when He says:
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26,27).
So frequently we, sinners and weaklings that we are, come to God weary and worn. Our motives can be questionable, our minds confused and our tongues stammering to know what to say and how to say it. Our words are jumbled. It is right here that the blessed Holy Spirit steps in taking our mixed up words and thoughts, putting them in His Words and in heavenly speech, straightening them out as He does so. And God hears and responds perfectly.
Ours is to take care lest we grieve or quench this Holy One who is given to make "intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." We cannot live defectively and expect to pray effectively. Prayer is the rope up to the belfry; we pull it and it rings the bell up in heaven. The Holy Spirit, if free to work, is at the other end of the rope to aid in the pulling of the bell, effectively so!
- Dick Christen
