Dual Songs, Dual Prayers

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (1 Corinthians 14:15)

Paul wrote that we should pray and sing in our understanding and our spirit. Let’s start by talking about praying and singing in our understanding. When we renew our minds with God’s Word, our level of understanding increases. Then, we can pray according to God’s Word, which is His will.

When we sing in our understanding, we use God-given talents, natural writing skills, knowledge of the Word, and the ability to combine melody, rhythm, and lyrics to articulate our faith or to praise and worship God. Singing in our understanding is also a powerful way to memorize Scripture. Praying and singing in our understanding is important, but we are not called to pray and sing only in our understanding, because our understanding will only go so far. We can do much more when we pray and sing in the Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit is when we allow our spirit (notice it is a small s) to pray in faith without planning what we will say. It’s not praying in understanding; it is praying God’s perfect will from our spirit by the Holy Spirit.

Singing in the Spirit is singing before God without a written musical score. We simply sing from faith in tongues or as the Spirit directs us without prior plans or knowledge of how it will sound.

Praying and singing in our understanding and in the Spirit are both essential and influential. We should make a habit of doing both.

Practical Application

Sing in the Spirit today. You don’t have to hold a pitch or think of a perfect song to sing. Sing in faith or in tongues before God, allowing the Holy Spirit in you to sing through your human spirit and your voice.

Colossians 3:16; Psalm 47:7

Authority and Alignment

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23-24)

God wants your joy to be complete! In John 16:23-24, Jesus explained that fullness of joy comes from answered prayer. Some people get weary and want to stop praying because they don’t experience the fullness of joy from answered prayer.

Prayer was never called to be a religious requirement. It was always designed to be an intimate time between God and His children.

Jesus told the disciples they would no longer ask Him things after He rose from the dead. Instead, they would ask the Father in Jesus' authority.

Praying “in Jesus’ name” isn’t a form of magic or a magical formula. It acknowledges His authority and character and our relationship with Him that allows us to use His authority.

Our authority comes from our life in Him. When we say, “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” we are not signing off on our prayer time. It’s not a closing statement to let God know we are done. It says, “I am in Christ, and Christ is in me, and Jesus has all authority. Because of this, I am in full agreement that everything that He said and everything we prayed about will be done as we have said together.” We expect our prayers to be answered and our joy will be full because we pray with authority and in alignment with God’s Word and character.

Practical Application

When you finish your prayer today and say, “In Jesus’ name, amen,” say it slowly. Think about what that means. Then, thank God for the authority Jesus has given you in prayer.

Isaiah 65:24; Ephesians 2:18

Friends, Not Simply Servants

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:15-16)

Jesus changed our status in the kingdom from servants to friends. He explained the difference between the two, saying that a servant doesn’t understand or even care what his lord is doing. He only does what is asked to check off the box, confirming the completion of the assignment. Jesus wants more for us than that. He wants us involved in what He is doing in His kingdom.

God has chosen us to be part of His plan and His will. We are called to be friends of God and to bring forth fruit. That means, as a part of our friendship with God, we are called to show the world tangible displays of our obedience to God and His favor, blessings, and power through our lives.

John 15:15-16 does not say that we no longer serve Jesus. We still serve the Lord, but we do so with the mindset of knowing that we are accomplishing things working with and through Him for kingdom purposes. We are helping God by being co-laborers together with Him in His divine plan.

Practical Application

When you pray, don’t just pray with a list of things to ask God for or even a list of Scriptures to declare in faith. Take the time to talk to God as a friend. Ask God what He thinks. Tell God what is happening in your life and involve Him in your daily decisions. You are not simply a servant called to get things done. You are a friend of God and He wants to have a relationship with you.

Isaiah 55:11; John 6:70