Luke 11:13. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Why does prayer change everything? Jesus answered that question: When we pray, our Father in heaven will give us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
But didn’t the Holy Spirit already come to us when we believed? Doesn’t the Bible say, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). What then did Jesus mean in Today’s Word?
When we believe and receive Jesus as the Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and seals us as God’s own. At that moment, we are given the identity of God’s children—a status that can never be revoked. However, just because we’ve become children of God does not mean we instantly enjoy all the blessings that come with it.
A baby born into a royal family is immediately a prince, but until he matures and is trained, he cannot inherit the throne or rule the kingdom. Even if he faces hardship or limitations, his royal identity does not change. Yet he cannot fully enjoy his rights as a prince until he grows.
In the same way, once the Holy Spirit enters our lives, our identity as children of God is permanent. Regardless of circumstances, that identity remains. But although we are saved, we may not always experience the mystery and privileges of being God’s children. Spiritual immaturity can prevent us from enjoying those blessings. Only as we mature in the gospel can we begin to live in that identity.
This growth doesn’t come through human effort but through the grace of God. The One who helps us live as God’s children is the Holy Spirit, our Counselor. We were once in darkness without hope, but by God’s grace we were saved. And it is by that same grace—not law-keeping or good works—that we begin to realize and enjoy our identity as God’s children. This is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit.
That work begins when we pray. The Holy Spirit leads us into God’s grace and mercy. The best way to live victoriously and experience the privileges of being God’s children is by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For unbelievers, nothing is more urgent than salvation. But for believers, nothing is more vital than the work of the Holy Spirit, who enables them to enjoy their identity and authority in Christ.
There is no greater gift in prayer than receiving the Holy Spirit of grace. When the Spirit works in us, everything changes—because He is the Spirit of Christ, and Christ is the answer to everything. When the Spirit of Christ fills our lives, every problem meets its solution.
Through the Spirit, our old habits and nature begin to fade. We still struggle with things like negative thinking, fear, complaints, selfishness, and addiction. Many try to overcome these on their own and fall into despair when they fail. They may think they lack faith, but legalistic striving is not faith. True faith is resting in God’s grace. Only by the Holy Spirit’s power can we be set free from our old selves. That’s the good news.
We have nothing to boast about—it is all God’s grace. When we understand that the same God who saved us is the One who continues to change us through His Spirit, we can live with humility and freedom. This is why receiving the Holy Spirit through prayer is the greatest answer we can receive.
So come before your Father’s throne with confidence. There, you will find grace, mercy, and help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer. Father, I come before You with the confidence You’ve given me through faith in Christ. May Your Spirit work in my spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body when I pray. Heal me, restore me, and help me grow more into Your image. In Jesus’ name, Amen.