As a citizen of the United States of America, I would be honored to receive an invitation to dine with our president. Our president is one of the most knowledgeable and powerful people on the face of the earth. Considering the numerous agencies at his disposal, there is very little information that he cannot obtain. The president’s knowledge of our state of affairs would far exceed my own: he is the Commander-in-chief, whereas I am a citizen who does not hold a governmental office. Therefore, when discussing our nation’s affairs, the president would have to talk to me on my level of understanding. If he didn’t, I would not be able to relate to him, because successful communication requires common ground.

Similarly, when I communicate with the King of the universe, there is no way I can communicate with Him on His level. The U.S. president might know a lot about our country’s state of affairs, but God knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him. When I pray to God in my own understanding, I am limited to what I see and know. God wasn’t satisfied to have this limited level of intimacy with His children. Therefore, He has made it possible for us to commune with Him on His level. He has done this through the gift of His Spirit. It’s as if God said, “I don’t want to merely communicate with My children on a level far below My knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. I want them to have the ability to go into deep fellowship with Me. So I’m going to give My children a Helper: My Spirit.” The Holy Spirit’s presence and communion make it possible for us to experience deep intimacy with the Creator.

God’s will and ways surpass our limited understanding—but when we pray in the Spirit, we do not pray according to our own understanding. Instead, we pray according to the will of His Spirit. Did you catch that? When we pray in the Spirit, we pray according to God’s perfect will!

A Language for War

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)