For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in the power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that his efforts to bring the Gospel to them were not his alone. He brought the Gospel to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was through cooperation between God and human beings that they heard the good news of God’s love for them.

Prayer is a response to God’s love and an invitation to a relationship that works out on two levels. There is the human level. And that is why you can just bring your day-to-day experiences to God and talk about what is really going on in your life. However, when we pray, we don’t just pray on our own. The Holy Spirit is inside us and guiding and helping us to pray. If we will simply show up for prayer, the Spirit will help us. 

Take 5 minutes to reflect on the last 24 hours. Ask the Spirit to remind you what you should thank God for, what you should say you are sorry for, and for whom you should offer petitions.