Prayer Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the …
One of the mysteries of the Christian faith is the nature of God, because there is a picture painted of Him as three-in-one. The Trinity refers to the idea that God is three separate, unique identities that are also one being. These identities are The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
If you stay in touch with me and absorb what I say, you can achieve anything. (NLT) John 15:7
Making petitions to God is something we are obligated to do. One of the most elementary reasons to pray is that God ordered it. Becoming a disciple is dedicating oneself fully to God’s will.
“Stay on the lookout and pray for help from above. You’ll cave in to temptation if you don’t. The mind and heart are on board, but the physical self is lagging. New Living Translation of Matthew 26:41
Then Jesus used a parable to drive home the point that constant prayer was essential. (Lucas 18:1)
Furthermore, make your requests known to the Holy Spirit at all times. Don’t forget this while you keep praying for and keeping an eye on God’s saints. (NIV) Bible verse cited (Ephesians 6:18)
What’s the Point if I Can’t Pray?
If you find yourself at a loss for words in prayer, have faith that the Holy Spirit will direct you:
When we are weak, the Spirit makes us strong. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf when we have no idea what to pray for. The Holy Spirit intercedes on behalf of the righteous in accordance with God’s purpose, and anybody who studies our hearts will know the thoughts of the Spirit. Romans 8:26–27, New International Version
Novena Prayer To The Holy Spirit For A Special Favor
The last one in that list is perhaps the most mysterious, but the one that guides Christians in their daily lives. People often pray to the Father and the Son, but sometimes feel hesitant to pray to the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it clear the Holy Spirit is a part of prayer, with it guiding believers and even providing a method of communication between someone and God when they just cannot articulate their needs and pain in prayer.
Invoking the Spirit in prayer is acceptable, especially when asking for help in something for which the Bible says the Holy Spirit is there to help.
Who (or What) Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God, an element of His character that touches the daily lives of those who love Him. The first mention of the Spirit is in Genesis; “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).
Before anything was created, God existed in perfect unity with Himself: Father, Son, and Spirit, together. After the Fall, the Spirit stayed in Heaven, but it would descend on certain individuals, selected to do the Lord’s work, or who had a particularly close relationship to God. It is described by Jesus as the Helper, or the Comforter, whose presence is with the Church until He returns, and as a seal on Christians so they are marked as one of Jesus’ flock.
Some of these individuals included:
Joshua
“So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him’” (Numbers 27:18).
Othniel
“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died” (Judges 3:9-11).
David
“And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:12b-13).
During the time before the Lord Jesus came to earth, the Spirit would rest with certain individuals, but not everyone, and it could leave them if they hardened their hearts or sinned greatly against the Lord. The most prominent example of the Spirit descending upon and then departing from someone was Saul – the first king of Israel. When the prophet Samuel first anoints Saul, “…the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them” (1 Samuel 10:10b). Despite being powerfully used by God, Saul grows increasingly worldly. He disobeys the command to eliminate all the Amalekites, including their livestock, and finally, “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14a).
The Holy Spirit also dispensed gifts in the Old Testament. When the Hebrew people were making a Tabernacle for God, the Spirit endowed Bezaleel with wisdom and knowledge for crafting. Today, the Holy Spirit still dispenses gifts ranging from the practical, such as administration and teaching, to gifts like speaking in tongues and discernment.
Can We Pray to the Holy Spirit?
The Lord’s Prayer is considered the model prayer by many Christians, and the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. However, many Christians pray in the name of Jesus, something that is not present in the Lord’s prayer either.
The Bible says the Holy Spirit is a part of prayer; the Apostle Paul wrote, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Knowing the Spirit is interceding when prayers are inadequate is comforting.
The Spirit is also the source of sanctification. It is what convicts believers of their sins, revealing even the most suppressed evil, and what cultivates godly character traits; “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
It is not sinful to ask the Holy Spirit to help with something that is under its domain during prayer. It indwells each believer to sanctify, convict, and prepare Christians for eternity in Heaven, and calling on it for help in those matters through prayer is appropriate.
Simple Prayer To The Holy Spirit
A Prayer for Understanding
O Lord,
I thank you that You are full of wisdom, and that You want to share that wisdom with us. Holy Spirit, I am in a complicated situation right now. I need understanding and discernment to navigate it in a manner that does not hurt those around me, maintains my testimony, and glorifies God. Fill me with the divine discernment that only comes from the Lord, so that I can
navigate these rough waters. Guide me and help me to understand those who are not in agreement with me, so that I can see them the way the Lord sees them. Help me to know what is right, and to stand in the right.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
A Prayer for Strength
O Lord,
I am weak, and need your help to do what is right. I am assailed on all sides by temptation, and my flesh is easily corrupted. You give strength to the weary and power to the weak. Holy Spirit, help me to feel Your presence, and fill me with the power to walk away from the things that are trying to pull me away from the path of righteousness. I need to feel Your presence, and I need Your power to say no. Spirit, guide me and lead me along the straight path and through the narrow gate.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
A Prayer for Increased Godliness
O Lord,
Without you, I am wicked sinner, who thinks no good thought and does no good deed. I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to seal me as the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire possession of it, to the praise of the glory of God. Holy Spirit, please increase godly character in me. Make me more like my Lord and Savior through conviction and sanctification. Find in me and remove sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, enmity, jealousy, wrath, envy, and any other sin that consumes my heart. Instead, fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want less of me, and more of my God, and I need your guidance Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
While the Holy Spirit is difficult to understand, it is the way God abides and guides. The Holy Spirit is an active part of a Christian’s life, as long as they do not suppress it. It serves as the believer’s conscience, and to blaspheme it and ignore it is to bring condemnation upon oneself. Relying on the Spirit is a path toward righteousness, and reaching out in prayer for that guidance is a way to stay connected to God.
It is impossible to live a true Christian life as Jesus’ disciple without the Holy Spirit. Here is a selection of Bible verses about the Holy Spirit – His role, how we receive Him, how He can help us.
Bible verses about the promise of the Holy Spirit
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5.
“‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20.
Coming of the Holy Spirit
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4.
Receiving the Holy Spirit – Bible verses about the baptism of the Holy Spirit
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” Matthew 3:11.
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13.
“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:14-17.
The Holy Spirit – The Helper and Spirit of truth
Jesus said this to His disciples not long before He was to leave them:
“‘If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.’” John 14:15-18.
“‘These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.’” John 14:25-26.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” John 15:26.
“‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. … I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.’” John 16:7, 12-14.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will remind us of God’s Word in our daily situations. Isn’t that a comfort? As humans, it’s easy for us to lose focus on what has eternal value in the busyness of life. The Holy Spirit can prompt us in the moment where we most need it – to not return evil for evil, or to cast all our cares on Him, for example.
“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:12.
“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.
The Holy Spirit – Power
“‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Acts 1:8.
Peter, who just days before was so weak and timid that he couldn’t manage to confess Jesus even though wanted to, was in a moment full of power when the Holy Spirit fell on him. Do you, also, have a good desire in your heart to live a pure life for Jesus? Do you long to say “No!” in temptation but just lack the power to? Pray for the Holy Spirit! He will give you power to resist like you’ve never experienced before!
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31.
Walk in the Spirit
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25.
After receiving the Spirit, it is apparent from this verse that there is a way for us to proceed on. Walking in the Spirit means being obedient to the Spirit.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17.
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13.
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion …’” Hebrews 3:7-8.
“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
