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Who and What to Pray For

We are continuing to learn the effectiveness of our prayer time.

The question before us today is Who & What should I pray for?  I desire is to share a pattern we can develop that will give us the knowledge of who and what to pray for as we continue to develop our prayer life.

First, let me say that the circumstances we face every day can determine the “who” and the “What” we pray for.  Situations and circumstances can be distractions to move us away form a prayer life or they can be our opportunity to demonstrate the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives when Jesus said the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance the Word of God, In John 14:26 Jesus shares “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

John 14:26 KJV

The circumstances whether good or bad drive us pray for “who” and “what.”  But the Holy Spirit will guide us effectively in the prayers we pray. I like what Jesus shared in Matthew 6 concerning prayer, I am reading from Ben Campbell Johnson’s, a relational paraphrase, of Matthew’s Gospel – specifically the teaching on prayer Jesus taught Matt. 6:5-8 “Like giving, prayer is also a personal experience.  When you offer your prayer, don’t seek some place of public display like the church or athletic contest or political conventions or inaugural speeches. Those who pray have their recognition form the crowds that hear them. When you pray, withdraw into your inner being where you are alone with God. Let your prayers happen there, and the live you live will clearly demonstrate what happened in your encounter with God.”  When you offer prayers, there is no reason to be wordy like the uninstructed. Prayer is not just words, but also attitudes and awareness, so a lot of words do not mean a lot of prayer. I emphasize to you that God is aware of you before you are aware of him, and he knows what you need before you utter a single word.”

This is an amazing relational paraphrase of the teaching Jesus gave.  The circumstances or situations you face, the “who” and “what” is due to a personal experience.  Our God is aware of us, He is aware of where we are, what the circumstance is, the “who” & “what” brings you to prayer.

Your Bible is instruction manual to be used for the how we pray; for the “who” and “what.”  The Holy Spirit will guide you, bringing to remembrance the things you have learned in Scripture, no matter any level of experience you have in Jesus.  You and I learned to hear from the inner man, that inner voice of God that was made alive the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.

Let me close today’s session with this example.  Parents have their ear tuned to their child or children.  Parents know the sound of their children. Children know the voice of their parents.  Children tend to hear the call of a parent, but if a child is in danger the modulation of the parent’s voice is raised to a level that alerts to child to the danger.  In like manner the “who” and “what” we pray for will be to the level of danger in the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Whether it is for family, a church, town, city, state, nation, a business, or certain people in our lives.  Follow the example of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6: 9-15.

“Here is a simple way for you to pray.  Father, you are the heart of heaven. We reverence your name.  May the movement of your being continue to the Ultimate fulfillment. May Your purpose be actual idea on this earth, may it be demonstrated in our lives as completely as it is in heaven.  Enable us to get the physical necessities for our daily lives today. continually forgive our features even as we forgive the failures of others. Led us by your hand. Do not test us. Liberate us from destructive structures and persons.  I pray all these things because yours is the power, the authority’s and the fulfillment in all things, in all ways.”

May the Lord bless you as you continue developing an active prayer life.