Resting in God through Prayer
If you truly want to rest in God, your heart must first be lifted up by the Holy Spirit. And once lifted, it must also be held up by Him to remain in true and living communion with God.
No man-made prayer book can lift or prepare the heart for prayer. That sacred work belongs to the Spirit of God alone.
Why We Struggle to Stay in God’s Presence
Just as Moses needed help to keep his hands raised in prayer (Exodus 17:12), we too need the Spirit’s help to keep our hearts raised to God.
God says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” – Isaiah 29:13
Jesus called such outward worship hypocritical (Matthew 15:7-9).
The Inner Battle During Prayer
Let me speak from personal experience.
- When I go to pray, my heart is often distracted.
- Even when I start praying, I struggle to remain focused.
- I frequently find myself praying:
- “Lord, take my heart and set it upon You in Christ.”
- “Lord, keep my heart with You.”
And at times, I don’t even know what to pray. But here is our hope:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” – Romans 8:26
The Heart’s Hidden Struggles
During prayer, our heart faces countless distractions:
- Pride when trying to sound impressive.
- Hypocrisy when we lack genuine connection with God.
- Restlessness that leads us away from stillness in His presence.
Unless the Spirit of Supplication (Zechariah 12:10) is working within us, our prayers can become empty sounds.
True prayer happens when the Holy Spirit leads and lifts the heart. Without Him, prayer becomes lifeless. With Him, it becomes life-giving.
A Prayer to Rest in God
O Lord God,
I’m learning each day that I can do nothing apart from Your Holy Spirit.
It is You who lifts my heart in prayer, prepares my soul, and teaches me how to truly rest in You.
Let my heart be moved by Your Spirit.
Let my desires reflect Your will.
Let my life become a testimony of the power of prayer.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
