The question “what should we pray for today?” is a very important question; one that can determine if our future would be eternal life or eternal death.
One of the most important things that we should pray for today is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, God cannot work with us and make us better people. We must not wait to ask tomorrow, or the next day, or the next week, or even next month. This is one request that we must never put off.
“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.” Hebrews 3:7–9
“Harden not your hearts,” it says. Do not put your prayer for the Holy Spirit off for tomorrow. The Lord is calling you today, in this moment. We all need the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide us through this cruel and sinful world.
The Holy Spirit is often called the “Comforter” in many verses of the Bible. Often times we may feel down, or discouraged, or alone. But the Holy Spirit can relieve everything.
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16–18
We are truly blessed to have this promise. Whenever life gets difficult we can always trust that the Holy Ghost will bring us peace. “Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should they pray that God will baptize His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit. The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the proclamation of truth a power that not all the honour or glory of the world can give.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 50
As well as praying for the Holy Spirit, there are many other things we must pray for today. The Lord is not pleased if we ask for only material wealth. No, we must ask for strength to resist temptation. We must ask for wisdom, to see us through all the falsehoods in this world. We must also ask for help to remain humble as it is pride that destroys many.
In this time in which we live, we can clearly see the signs of the times fulfilling around us. Are we prepared? Are we watching? Or are we sleeping in this false sense of security, thinking that we will be alright.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34–36
Brothers and sisters, the time is shorter than we think. Everything is about to fall apart before our very eyes. We must wake up, pray and prepare ourselves for what is to come. As Christians we must understand that there is not a future for us on this earth. We cannot plan for things on this earth. We must plan for the things in heaven.
May God help us to pray for things that will bring us closer to Christ and prepare us for the trials ahead. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will not be lacking in anything. This way we can enjoy eternal life in heaven when Jesus comes again. Amen.
Michael C. Newby