Prayer VII: Praying for Yourself

 What do people pray for when the pray for themselves? Healing, wisdom, maturity, the location of lost items, faith, to win the lottery? How do we know that these prayers will be answered? How do we pray for ourselves and make sure it is according to God's Will and it can be stamped with Jesus' name? If we are to pray without ceasing as I Thessalonians 5:16 says, how can we do that without running the risk of praying for things that aren't wholesome or pleasing to God? Should we pray for our lost car keys?
 Well, the short answer is yes. If we are to pray without ceasing and cast our cares and concerns onto God, then ultimately the lost keys would fall under that umbrella. But let's look further into what praying for ourselves really entails. Galatians 5:16-26 tells us that the flesh wars against the spirit. The flesh seeks worldly things and, ultimately, sin. The spirit, though, desires after the things that the Holy Spirit does. Remember, the Holy Spirit dwells inside us, and by nature makes us into a temple to Him. Therefore in man there can only be two sets of hierarchies with regards to submission.

 These hierarchies aren't in regard to greater or lesser, but in regards to submission. Either the flesh rules or the spirit does, but never the soul. In natural man, only the flesh can rule, but in the supernatural man, by the workings of the Holy Spirit, the spirit can rule.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:24

 If we cannot serve two masters, and either the flesh rules or the spirit rules, we don't have much of a choice. We must walk by the spirit so as not to carry out the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16). This chapter in Matthew goes on to tell us that God takes care of the birds and the lilies and so He will much more take care of you, His children; therefore, we need not worry about food or clothing. Does this mean we shouldn't pray for these things? Not at all! But rather that we shouldn't worry about these things. Pray to God for them and then be settled, knowing God loves you and will take care of you.
 The chapter ends with Jesus saying not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself and that each day has trouble of its own. Then should we not pray for today only? Also consider this: God's hierarchy of submission is Father - Son - Spirit. Again this is not a hierarchy of supremacy as God is infinitely supreme and the tri-unity is exactly that, united and equal. However in this supremacy of submission the Spirit is lowest. This allows God's Spirit to harmonize with your spirit, provided you are ruled by the spirit and not the flesh. Natural men's spirit is effectively dead until God quickens it, but once we have been made alive in Christ we can partake in the Heavenly realms, beginning with His Holy Spirit.
 So when we pray do not worry over anything. Especially do not worry what is a suitable topic for praying. The only suitable topics are ones you pray for in the spirit. If you are praying in the flesh the criteria of prayer doesn't matter, it is in vain. If, however, you pray in the spirit, the doors of Heaven are open to you and be the prayer trivial or colossal, God hears, listens, and answers. So pray without ceasing and let tomorrow take care of itself. Let the Holy Spirit guide your spirit to a height the flesh can never attain. Walk by the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.