Praying in the Spirit activates the grace of God to pray perfect prayers in any situation. These prayers go beyond our own agendas and beyond our rational understanding. When we pray in the Spirit, divine insight enlightens our hearts so that we can hit the mark when we pray.

Praying in the Spirit with Eager Expectation

The book of Jude has only one chapter, but it is full of revelation and divine insight about praying in the Spirit:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” Jude 20-21

eager expectationThe wording catches my attention: “waiting anxiously.” That does not contradict the Scriptures about casting your anxieties upon the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:7. See also Philippians 4:6; Matthew 6:25-34).

“Waiting anxiously” means waiting with expectation, hardly being able to contain your eagerness. Praying in the Spirit releases a supernatural atmosphere and enables you to walk continuously in the love of God.

Another interesting fact about this passage is that it says you are supposed to build yourself up. You cannot wait for others to do so, and you cannot wait for God to make it happen.

Every one of us ebbs in our faith, but we can also grow in it. Even when we feel too low to figure out how to pray, we can pray in the Spirit.

The Spirit Himself will always help us:

“The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

It is true. We do not know how to pray as we should. We need fresh manna. We need to drop our agendas in favor of the Lord’s. If we want to know what is on His heart, one of the easiest ways to open the way is to pray in the Spirit.

The gift of tongues brings rest for the weary and refreshing peace. Indeed, “He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue” (Isaiah 28:11-12). And His unsurpassed peace quiets our spirits, which creates a perfect incubation environment for more revelation.

Let’s seek divine insight purposefully by praying in the Spirit.

Let the Hand of God Come Upon You

hand of GodIn Hebrew there is a word for “hand” that refers to the burden of the Lord: massa.

This word refers specifically to the way the Lord’s presence comes upon you and imparts something so that even when His hand lifts, the burden remains.

This is how prophetic intercession works—divine insight comes to inform powerful prayers. 

Here is what James the apostle wrote about the burden of prayer in his epistle:

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:16-18

Never put limits on what God can do, even through an ordinary person like you!

A Prayer for Divine Insight

Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask for an increase of divine insight as I pray in the Spirit. Let Your hand come upon me and let the burden of the Lord be deposited with me. I ask for greater clarity, revelation and discernment to pray fervent, effective prayers. Thank you, Lord. Amen and Amen!

Praying in the Spirit for divine insight!

James W. Goll


Powerful Prophetic Intercession Curriculum KitThis article has been adapted from James Goll’s new book Praying with God’s Heart: The Power and Purpose of Prophetic Intercession, Chapter 7 on “Divine Insight: Praying in the Spirit.” For a limited time, you can purchase the Powerful Prophetic Intercession Curriculum Kit for 77% Off! This bundle includes the Praying with God’s Heart book along with the Powerful Prophetic Intercession Study Guide and 12-Lesson Class in your choice of format. Order your curriculum kit today and become a history maker in prayer for such a time as this!