The picture of an unborn babe in the womb has always fascinated me. In its fetal position the child is in the same posture as a person in prayer. On the other hand, just as interesting, when one is dying, he or she reverts back to that original fetal position.
Is God telling us we are born to pray? That all our life, from our birth into His Kingdom, to the very end of our existence on earth, we are to pray? The first thing said of Paul at his birthing into God’s family was, “behold he prayeth.”
We cannot be on our knees physically every moment. But the “knees of our heart” can be bent to the Lord throughout the day. We are told to “continue in prayer,” and to be “instant in prayer”; “Praying always.” David tells us that “he gave himself to prayer.” When we do this consensually, each day, the Holy Spirit will carry on this ministry for us, even when we are not conscious of it. Proof is seen at different intervals, when, for no reason at all, we break out into prayer, or when a sudden emergency arises and our first words are, “Oh God...”
We do not know how or what to pray for. Therefore, let us give ourselves over to the indwelling Spirit, who will fulfill the ministry of prayer through us. Allow Him to carry out His intercessory work in each of us today—even when we’re not aware of it, except for the groanings within us that cannot be uttered.
God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. (Richard Sibbes)
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