Daily Walking, Working, and Winning by God's Word by Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr.

I'm beginning my work on Sunday, Sept. 18th sermon. It will be entitled, "Contend for the Faith." The Scripture reference will be Jude 17 - 25. Leading up to Sunday, my daily blogs will focus upon verses found in the Book of Jude.

An overlooked dimension of prayer is that it must be "in the Holy Spirit." Pray which comes from God can go to God. We must learn how to shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.

Praying in the Holy Spirit is praying in fervency. Cold prayers or lukewarm prayers are pitiful prayers. Prayers must be red hot, and heart felt.

Praying in the Holy Spirit is praying with perseverance. Beautiful in God's sight are tearful, agonizing, unconquerable, insistent requests. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

Praying in the Holy Spirit is to offer a humble prayer. We must learn contrition and brokenness of spirit. We must avoid "hubris" a false sense of pride that says we are even worthy to come to God in our sinful state. Out of our depths, we must learn to cry, or we shall never behold His glory.

Praying in the Holy Spirit is to offer a loving prayer. If we cannot love those who we see, how can we love Him that we cannot see? Prayer should be perfumed with love and saturated with loving desire.

Praying in the Holy Spirit should strengthen your faith. It must believe the promises of God, even if you never see the promise, does not mean that the promise is not just over the horizon.