(1st in a series on “Questions About Prayer”)
I wonder if sometimes you’ve wondered about the kinds of things I wonder about? Like about what to pray about for certain things.
We know prayer is the thing to do. And we’ve heard that prayer can be as simple as talking to God about stuff as if the Three-in-One were right here with you (and God is right here with you!). Yet sometimes things are so painful or confusing we just don’t know what to say, what to pray. Things around us may seem out of control, or at least beyond our control. So many things pull at our hearts. The COVID crisis. Relational issues. The world falling apart. Vocational stresses or loss. Crushing health news. People we love unexpectedly dying.
Do you wonder too? I sometimes wonder what to pray. I mean like what to say when nothing makes sense.
I wonder if the answer may be the Bible. Not just remembering the right phrase or verse that might fit the occasion, but really praying Scripture.
The other day a friend and I were doing our walk-and-talk thing. We got to thinking about how often in small group meetings we seem to pray about the same kinds of things all the time–for example, sickness relational crises, and jobs mostly–without considering what we should pray about them.
If we took God’s Word and prayed it, we could be much more certain that we would be praying what God would be pleased to hear and to answer. As it is, I wonder if we may not pray more like the folk James was talking to: “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (Italics added, James 4:2-3).
Perhaps we should pray for things God has already told us to pray about, to focus on. For example, that we would give thanks in all our prayers, even for the tough stuff–cancer, job loss, emotionally distressing confusing stuff. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus “(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I find this almost impossible to do sometimes (or, usually, uh, practically always impossible), but it’s there, so it’s worth working through. A Jesus-follower pursuing God’s heart might pray through this passage like this:
Dear Lord, I want so very much to pray right now in a way that honors you.
You know all about me, all the time, so right now you know I am (sad, confused, hurt, angry) about this (cancer, rejection, loneliness, problem).
You tell me to always be joyful.
You know I don’t feel joyful at all right now, but I confess that my joy is in knowing you, Lord Jesus, and what I have through you, the Holy Spirit. My truest joy does not depend on this circumstance.
And you tell me to pray continually, to keep on praying, all the time. So I will no matter what, come way may.
And you tell me to be thankful because it is your will that I would be thankful. So I will try to be thankful. Not that I enjoy this (trial, hardship, affliction), but I will trust you to help me be thankful because . . . well, the truth is,
you love me no matter what, you will never leave me or abandon me, you are greater than all my circumstances, and because you say all things work together for good because I love you, so that I will become more like you. And then you will be glorified through my life, especially through this painful, confusing time, which I don’t understand.
I am trusting you, Father, and with your help, I am praying what you want me to pray. Please give me the grace you promise me.
In your precious name, Jesus, Amen.
Dear Lord, I want so very much to pray right now in a way that honors you. You know all about me, all the time, so right now you know I am (sad, confused, hurt, angry) about this (cancer, rejection, loneliness, problem). You tell me to always be joyful. You know I don’t feel joyful at all right now, but I confess that my joy is in knowing you, Lord Jesus, and what I have through you, the Holy Spirit. My realest joy does not depend on this circumstance. And you tell me to pray continually, to keep on praying, all the time. So I will no matter what, come way may. And you tell me to be thankful because it is your will that I would be thankful. So I will try to be thankful. Not that I enjoy this (trial, hardship, affliction), but I will trust you to help me be thankful because . . . well, the truth is, you love me no matter what, you will never leave me or abandon me, you are greater than all my circumstances, and because you say all things work together for good because I love you, so that I will become more like you. And then you will be glorified through my life, especially through this painful, confusing time, which I don’t understand. I am trusting you, Father, and with your help, I am praying what you want me to pray. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen.
If we believe the Bible is God’s voice to us, words and truths inspired by the Holy Spirit, taught and applied to our lives by God the Holy Spirit, then responding in prayer to God’s voice to be applied and realized through our prayers, is something that we should pursue. In so doing we pursue God’s heart.
God’s voice. I wonder if Jesus’ words in John 10:27 fit here: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Praying what we know is God’s will is the answer to the question at the top of the post. I remember one of my favorite teachers in college picking up his Bible, looking me directly in the eye, and saying, “Steve, 90% of God’s will for you is in this book. Do it, and everything else will fall into place.”
Ken Boa helps us unpack more of the what-we-know-is-God’s-will in the Bible. Scripture that prays. Prayers rooted and grounded in God’s will and his Word. in the Praying Room Resource column on the right is a booklet, “Think On These Things: Living with Eternal Perspective” by Ken Boa. It’s a great resource! Ken gives clear, helpful guidance about praying through the truth of Scripture.
Let’s join Jesus, praying, “. . . not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Coming in the “Questions About Prayer” series:
Are there other things we should pray that we can be certain God wants us to pray?
How can I use this “pray scripture” idea in my devotional life?
How could I ever “pray without ceasing”?!
What and how should I be praying for my family, friends, church, or community?
Are there different kinds of prayer for different situations?
Please leave a comment below for the Pursuing community. Share your insights, or what you may need to think about some more. Ask for more information. Or disagree (that’s okay!) and tell us why. Do you have a “prayer question” you would like to add to this “Questions About Prayer” for us to consider together? Please share it!
Please comment!
Maybe write your own prayer!
I wonder, what do you do prayer is just too hard to put into words?