Prayer VI: Praying in His Will

 Have you ever decided you wanted something, but wouldn't allow yourself to have it? Maybe it was a purchase, another piece of dessert, or just saying no to a night with friends before an early morning. Well is God's wants different than His Will? They certainly are. God desires that none, should perish yet wide is the gate that leads to ruin. How then should we react to God's will. Is it similar to the clash between our wants and our will? Our Spirit versus our flesh? His Spirit versus ours? Let's look a little further on this subject this week.

 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:26-30

 In this passage, Paul is highlighting what the Spirit does in regards to our prayer. He intercedes, much like Jesus, our mediator. However does the Spirit intercede before we pray to tune our hearts to God so that we would pray better, or does He intercede on the prayer before the prayer reaches God, cleaning it and polishing it? Probably both. The Spirit's whole goal is to make the prayer presentable to God as soothing aroma. First the Spirit strives to conform us to the image of the Son, but second He makes intercession too deep for words before God. In this way He acts as both a proofreader giving suggestions to us, the petitioner, but also the copy editor making final changes before publication in Heaven.
 The Spirit's ministry is to conform us to the Son. This process is called sanctification and all believers are undergoing sanctification this side of eternity. When it comes to prayer, however, sanctification's goal, and therefore the Spirit's goal, is to have us pray as Jesus would pray. Last week we saw that when we pray in Jesus' name, we should pray as Jesus Himself would pray. Well good news! We need not (and cannot) do this on our own, the Spirit is there to guide us! He acts as our guide, our path, our friend, and helper to show us how to pray. One isn't born speaking fluent English, and neither is one born again speaking the deep matters of the heart conformed to God's will. The Spirit brings our stubborn selves along until we can pray as such.
 So then what is the will of God in regards to prayer? That we become conformed to Jesus' image. If, however, we stray from this, what is the consequences? Well for an unbeliever, they cannot pray according to God's will as the do not have God's Spirit. For believers, it becomes more tricky. First the Spirit will convict men unto repentance. But if a stubborn soul should persist, then God's will might pass them by. Consider Esther 4:13, Mordecai tells Esther that if she doesn't do this thing, God will raise up another. The same could be said for us, but may it never be! Rather strive to pray according to the will of God, for God's name's sake.
 This means putting off our old selves. Denying things that we may want. Things for good or for bad, but nevertheless, things not according to God's will. John the Baptist said "I must decrease, He must increase," this is even more true for us who are indwelt by His Spirit. The Psalms also speak of rejoicing to do God's will (Psalm 40:8), so we should not consider this a burden, but rather an opportunity to rejoice and learn. Ask God to to teach you His Will (Psalm 143:10)
 God's Will is that none should perish (II Peter 3:9). If that is so why do some perish? Why doesn't God destroy evil? Because He desires that none should perish and come to repentance and so He allows them a chance. If He eliminated evil, He would have to destroy all men who are not covered by His blood. However there will be a day that this is done, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. In the aftermath, all that will be left is those who strive to pray according to God's will. What do we call it when everyone is praying in God's will? Heaven. Heaven will come to earth. Rejoice, brothers and sisters, as we have a Blessed Hope.