The Partnership Of Prayer

The Partnership of Prayer

The Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. Romans 8:27

IMAGINE PRAYING TO GOD as if sitting across a table from him. As you present your requests, he looks across at you while listening to whatever is on your heart. Suddenly, you realize this is not the right setup for someone who has been completely reconciled to God and filled with his Spirit. He sees your expression and, knowing your heart already, nods in agreement. You get up, pull your chair around to his side of the table, and looking at your circumstances and the world together, you both have a conversation about the requests you were presenting a moment ago. Instead of sitting in the position of a negotiator, you are now sitting in a position of partnership. You and God are both involved in these prayers.

It is vital to hold this image or something like it in your mind when you pray. You are no longer trying to negotiate with God for a particular outcome; instead, you have been reconciled to him (2 Corinthians 5:18), and he has placed his Spirit inside of you (John 14:17; Romans 8:11). You are now in a partnership, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding for you (Romans 8:26, 34) as you discuss with God his will and your desires. Though you still pray to him, more importantly you are praying with him. Knowing the difference can completely transform the nature of your prayer life.

No longer do you simply present an agenda to God and hope he stamps it with his approval. Now you can freely talk about your desires, listen for his input, let your conversations with him shape and reshape your requests, and offer those requests up, knowing they have already been vetted by the one who will ultimately carry them out. You still may not know the timing or the means, but you know the heart of the Father who helped you craft your prayers and sense agreement with him in your heart. You know his kind disposition toward your petitions and have confidence in his power to fulfill them. You and the Father, Son, and Spirit are praying as one.

Prayer is a summit meeting in the throne room of the universe.