437. Spirit of Grace and Prayer
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
God promises the Holy Spirit. He promised to pour out the Spirit, and it came about on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. He tells us to ask for His Spirit and He will give it. If we believe in Jesus we already have it, but we still need the Spirit to infect the soul and to come out of us. So we pray the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus tells us to.
The promise to us is a spirit of grace. We receive all things by the grace of God. Jesus earned it for us, the Lord gives it to us, and we receive it by faith. Grace is free. Grace is abundant. Grace freely bestows countless blessings and promises. The spirit of grace also comes out of us, and when it does it gives off a sweet aroma, refreshes others, and it looks beautiful. We “forgive those who trespass against us.” We ask for this grace and we freely and often and instantly give it out. The Spirit graces our lives, and He, through us, graces other lives. Receive the spirit of grace, and ask for it. He promises to give it.
The promise is also a spirit of supplications. It is a spirit of prayer. We may ask for this promise and we may receive it in faith. “Pray without ceasing” means to always be ready to pray and grace the lives of those around us; it is living with the awareness of the presence of God with us. Constant “God-consciousness” is not possible, but we can practice it and get better at it; we can be eager to pray at an instant’s notice when we see a need. God will give us this spirit of prayers.