This is an extremely important and powerful part of prayer that we sometimes skip over, because of our busy lives. Spending time with the Holy Spirit is the difference between Old Testament and New Testament prayers. We’re also going to continue from last week and answer the question, “How do I pray if the will of God is unknown?” Which is also part of the very important reason why we need to spend time with the Holy Spirit.
Quick review:
We went over the importance of faith and believing God is, and He is a rewarder. (Hebrews 11:16) Then we talked about looking up scripture to see how we should pray, and that prayer is easy. Our faith can be measured simply by asking ourselves, “How surprised will I be when I receive an answer.” If you have any percent of surprise, you may need to do some hearing.
We should always look up Bible verses before we pray to make sure we’re praying properly. Let’s take a quick look at this again, before we move on to when the will of God is unknown.
Prayer for finances:
God loves you and wants you financially blessed! People often miss receiving their blessing, and determine God wants them to struggle, because they’re missing the scripture part of their prayer life:
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
It would be contradictory to ask God to supply your needs! I have not been a slouch in believing God for financial miracles. If it was need, I put the Lord in remembrance of what this scripture says and then keep myself in thanksgiving while looking for the financial blessing. If you find it difficult to believe, then check out the last post about building your faith by hearing scriptures with your ears.
Luke 6:38NKJV
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.
HELPS Word study says this about bosom, properly, the upper part of the chest where a garment naturally folded to form a “pocket” the position synonymous with intimacy.
I use this scripture when it’s not a need, but a want. Even still, He said it would be given to me if I gave. Same as the needs, I put the Lord in remembrance, “You said..” Then I thank Him, and look for my blessing. When the issue comes back up in my mind, I just thank the Lord He’s working on it. There are times I need mountain moving faith, so I make up a song about it. I know it sounds weird, but it’s only weird until the money shows up!
Sometimes we might experience a delay in the financial blessings, but we need to stand our ground. A pastor once told a story how the Lord impressed it upon him to give someone $500. This was years ago, and that was a lot of money back then. He thought about it, kept praying, and it took him a long time to act. As soon as he did, the person receiving the $500 told him they had been praying for $500. They needed $300, and the Lord told them to give someone else $200. It didn’t end there! Someone else was told to give that pastor $800, but not just yet. They were waiting on when… when the pastor decided to turn the $500 over. The pastor said he learned a lesson how his delay effected so many people. I shared that story as an example of how sometimes we may need to pray that the other person releases the blessing to us. You don’t have to know who they are just pray the release.
Isaiah 1:19-20 NKJV
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
This scripture can hurt. I’ve been obedient to what the Lord has called me to do, but not willing many times. As soon as I made some adjustments, because the next verse mentions rebelling, I was able to “eat the good of the land.” When I was not willing, my heart was in disobedience. You might be like, “Whaaat?” When your heart isn’t willing, you will grumble and complain, “I don’t want to live on this side of the country. It’s too hot here!” A grumbling check is a good way to check on your willingness! Can you imagine a missionary called to India sitting around saying, “I can’t stand it here. All they have is Indian food. I need cooler air conditioning, and the Wi-Fi is too slow!” Making a heart adjustment will put you in a place to “eat the good of the land.” So in this case, asking for financial blessings wouldn’t work!
You might say to me, “No Christi, some people are meant to be poor.” But to that I say, I can’t find that teaching in the Bible. Yes, things happened to Paul, but that doesn’t mean everything was God’s will. For example, Paul was hungry on the ship that was going to fall apart because the sailors didn’t listen to him. As soon as the ship was gone, Paul was well provided for. Check out all the financial blessing in scripture, including how the Israelites left Egypt. We have a better covenant based on better promised than Israel. Read how they spoiled the wealth of Egypt before you let anyone talk you out of a blessing.
Prayer for a spouse:
Romantic comedies have often clouded Biblical thinking, because I keep hearing people say they are praying for a soulmate. In the romcoms, they all (literally) bump into their perfect soulmate that fulfills their destiny. They have the most perfect relationship and happy future. Uhm… Let’s check the scriptures!
Romans 8:6-8 NKJV
6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Genesis 2:18 NKJV
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
I don’t want to be a dream killer. I’m not! God has so much more for single people than just a soulmate. A life of peace will come from a helper, not a soulmate! Woman have been redeemed. We are no longer the same price as a camel, but that issue is a long discussion for another post.
A pastor telling a real story about a couple that needed marriage counseling stuck with me through the years. A man was called to be a pastor, but his wife did not want the role of pastor’s wife. He began going to seminary, and she was so upset that she wanted a divorce. The man was forced to choose his wife or his call. The speaking pastor was saying how the man made the right decision to put his marriage first. I won’t comment on what’s not my business. Through the years, I’ve heard several of these very same stories where one spouse has a call, and the other isn’t willing. There have even been instances where the spouses’ callings clashed. You might be saying, “God can work all things out.” Yes, He can, but it will be at some expense. Your true destiny is in Christ, not a spouse! He has called two people to help each other get to that destiny.
On that note how do we pray? “Lord, You made me a helper, someone that is to help me fulfill my calling in life. Please reveal that person to me. Put me in the right place at the right time to meet them.” If it’s been sometime that your prayer has not been answered, then my suggestion is to pray, “Lord, prepare me to receive the helper. Show me if I need to make changes to receive my blessing.” Sometimes people living alone are doing a great job! For example, I have a friend that thought it was ok to wipe up spider webs with the dish sponge. I do not know one woman that would be ok with this. It didn’t end there. I lent him my pristine, very well-kept, clean, shiny, coverable mustang that he turned into a donkey to haul wood and tires with the added bonus of traveling trashcan. Instead of smelling like leather, it had a distinct smell of man-garage. While that’s a silly example, the Lord may want him to clean up a little bit before he sends a woman. That’s why the prayer, “Lord, prepare me…” can help speed up the process for some people. Not only that, but in the meantime, a single person should keep themselves busy working on their call. We all should be busy working on our call!
If you’re single you might be thinking, “Wait, I want a soulmate!! Am I wrong to want a soulmate? ”No! The Lord created a helper that IS your soulmate. The enemy has magnified a soulmate, to women especially, so he can prey on them. The devil can accommodate a soulmate. He can make someone say and do all the right things to create emotions. If you’re focused on emotions and not spirit, then you’re on unsafe ground. A man can bring a woman flowers, listen to everything she has to say, take her out, buy her gifts, and say things to make her feel like a princess; until she says I do. Ask any divorced woman! Likewise a woman could be the perfect woman that cooks, cleans, always happy, helpful, never starts trouble and never nags; until she says I do. But can a man or woman easily fake a call of God on their life? That’s far more difficult.
Update: While I was in prayer, this example came to me in a very strong way. Asking for a soulmate is like a baseball player’s ultimate goal is getting an official uniform and bat. If that’s his ultimate goal, the emotional shine will wear off quick because he’s not considering showing up to practices, answering to coaches, working with teammates, flying to different states, playing games in the hot sun or cool weather, sleeping in hotels and being in physical pain. The baseball uniform is just an outward indication he’s part of that team, just as the soulmate is the outward indication you’re part of a marriage team. When reality hits that baseball player, his uniform loses its meaning. He quits in his heart and may become depressed, mean, turn to drinking, or maybe find happiness in friends and hobbies. He may stick with his choice and try to ride it out, find a uniform on the side, or quit to find another job. That’s why divorce is high, the emotional connection is of the highest value in our society to both men and woman.
It’s so important to search the scriptures to make sure you’re asking The Lord for the right thing. He will never go against His Word; God and His Word are one (see John 1:1-3). It’s so important to take out 5 mins to read a couple scriptures. Often times we’re waiting on God to move a mountain for us, and the power to move it was in our hands all along.
This week… with little room left…
What do we do when the will of God is unknown?
When the will of God is unknown, then we MUST lean on the Holy Spirit for direction and words. The Holy Spirit DOES still speak to us, and He DOES still lead us. People go around believing God can’t and won’t. They judged Him weak and unfaithful, so He doesn’t commune with them. Those people in turn poison others. I am here to say, GOD IS STILL THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, still speaking, and still moving.
What is the difference between prayer in the Old Testament and the New Testament? The Holy Spirit! Praying with the Holy Spirit or spending time with the Holy Spirit as I like to call it. Asking in the name of Jesus is a right answer too, but today we’re talking about being led by the Holy Spirit.
An easy guide to help develop listening skills:
1. Tell the Holy Spirit, you want Him to help you pray, then listen for a moment. It’s ok if at first you don’t hear anything, you probably won’t. Don’t leave, let a song you know bubble UP out of your spirit, and sing a little or all of it. That’s letting the Holy Spirit choose a song to sing with you.
2. Be silent for a moment, expecting to hear, and then speak to the Holy Spirit. He is a He, not an it. He is one of the God in 3 Persons. In Hebrew His name is Ruach HaKodesh. The ruach means the breath of life or wind. Hakodesh means sacred as in holy. Holy Spirit’s name in Hebrew means something like The Sacred Breath of God’s Life. Don’t ignore your Helper. Speak to Him! Try calling Him by His Hebrew name. Thank You, Ruach HaKodesh, for being here with me. Thank You that Your breath is my life. Thank You for manifesting your Glory.
3. Be silent again for a moment, then thank Him for working. He’s not in your head but your heart, look there as you listen. Then begin to thank Him for working all things out. Thank You, for answers for you. Thank You for making me victorious. Thank You for leading me and guiding me. Thank You for praying with me.
4. Tell Him You can’t wait to spend time with Him again and hear Him. Think about it, communicating with the great God of Heaven. How exciting, right?
What are you listening for exactly? Anything! You’re listening for a song, a poem, encouragement, strength, peace, sensing His presence, sensing His love, joy, encouragement, and anything and everything we can have in Christ. If Christ bought it for you, it’s available and the Holy Spirit will manifest it. Even healing!
When you hang out with the Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, peace will come upon you. Shalom, His peace, it’s a delightful calm and relaxation no matter what’s going on in your life. I keep that presence of God here in my home, the Glory, and welcoming of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the year, I drive far to church events across the country. I stay in hotels or rent houses. To me, those places are never restful. When I walk back in my home, I feel His love, His peace, and His restfulness. That’s the atmosphere of praise, the Glory, where God is welcome. Either you have that too and said amen, or now you know such a thing is available to you. You can have it today, right now! Say out loud, “Ruach HaKodesh, You are welcome in this place.” Invite Him to read the Bible with you. Say good morning to Him. He’s a real Spirit person!
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t sense anything. It’s ok. This is a walk, a process to yielding, a skill that needs developed. No one plants a new tree and gets juicy big fruit on the first day! When I first heard I should be quiet and listen to hear something, I sat there about 10 seconds before I started using Italian gestures like, “WELL… C’MON… SPEAK….” My impatience is funny now, but it was so frustrating years ago. Now I can hang out with the Holy Spirit until I’m late for getting things done. That’s saying a lot for someone with ADHD, which is why I use a lot of italics, underline, and bold. It helps me hold my own attention.
After you have the printing menu open, choose borderless printing.
Ruach HaKodesh loves you and wants to hang out with you. Give Him your time, and you’ll start to be led by Him, see your prayers answered, and know there is tremendous power available to you! Thank you, Lord for your Word, and stir within everyone’s soul a new and refreshed excitement for hanging out with Ruach HaKodesh!
Christi
My Prayer Notebook 
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