One of the most important things Jesus wants to teach us about prayer is that we are often weak in prayer. "The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech" (Rm 8:26). We must know our weaknesses in prayer, when we're only giving God lip-service (Mt 15:8), when our hearts are far from the Lord.
When we recognize our weakness, we can get help by repenting of our sins, turning to the Spirit, and asking others to intercede for us. The Lord does not expect us to be self-sufficient in prayer. He accepts us in our weakness, but we don't accept ourselves. We should be honest with God and admit we're not praying as we ought. We should humbly ask others to intercede for us because we aren't praying for ourselves rightly (Jas 4:3).
Sometimes we should stop praying, leave our gift at the altar, and be reconciled (Mt 5:24). Honesty is the best policy in prayer. When we admit we need help, that's when we get help. When we admit our weakness, prayer power reaches perfection (2 Cor 12:9).
| PRAYER: | "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!" (Ps 130:1) |
| PROMISE: | "Give us each day our daily bread." –Lk 11:3 |
| PRAISE: | Marcia, a busy, active homeschooling mom of eight, awakens at 5:30 AM daily to have quiet time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College