Ever feel disconnected when you first start praying?
Is it because you have too many thoughts that need settling down?
I want to encourage you with how we can pray even when our soul is having a hard time cooperating…
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Remember that God created us in His Image—with a body, soul, and spirit.
As His children, it’s our yielded spirit—through the Holy Spirit—that reaches our heavenly Father when we pray.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
When my soul is overwhelmed by too many thoughts, I’ve learned to get alone with God in my spirit. There’s a difference between our soul and our spirit that we can feel when we are being still in God’s presence.
“Be still and know that I am God:” - Psalm 46:10a
Simply be still, as you bow down in your Father’s presence.
As we pause all the thinking, and just rest in God’s presence, we can feel there’s a part of us—the spirit—that is separate from our mind, will, and emotions. Yes, that part of us that simply rests in complete dependence on Him.
As we lean in with our spirit, we receive God’s comfort and the peace we need for whatever is overwhelming our soul. We rest as we realize our heavenly Father already knows all about it…
“I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;”
God knows our soul in adversities—how we feel, what our thoughts are, what our dreams and desires are, and what we need most.
“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.”
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”
On this side of forever, we all will have adversity—but we never have to face it alone. God is with us and He is for us. He sees and knows all about what we go through—even the tiny details of our daily life.
As our spirit communes with God in prayer, He provides us with the love, forgiveness, cleansing, comfort, grace, wisdom, power and strength we need.
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
