Pray For
Pray For – A start on the topic of “things to pray for”:
Prayer as Hope
One of the great shaping personalities of Protestantism was Martin Luther. We sometimes have the impression that all this brilliant monk did was nail a list of protests on the church door in Wittenberg. Nothing could be further from the truth. He worked as an inspired man, preaching, lecturing, and writing daily. The complete edition of his papers runs into thousands of pages. He worked inconceivably hard, and yet in spite of all this, Luther managed to pray for an hour or two every day. He said he prayed because he had so much to accomplish. We are recipients of this hope, and in a world that is so corrupt and needy, we also need to pray.
(Quote from: Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 174). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
There are many things we need to be praying for. However, we need to be careful that we don’t turn our prayer time into our “wish list approach”. Are we praying for what God tells us to pray about? The Model prayer gives many clues: Matthew 6:9-15 and notice the prayer is ‘God center’ and ‘other centered’.
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
To pray in this manner —
1 – praise God – He is majestic – transcends everything…
2 – pray for God’s will and outcome – God’s Kingdom brings peace to the earth, etc. – Peace to come to the earth as in heaven.
3 – pray for our daily needs (not wants) (Bread represents our daily substance for physical life, but can very well include the daily “word of God” needed for our spiritual life.) God provides both….
4 – Pray for forgiveness of debts (sins). God’s forgiveness of our sins is dependent upon our forgiving our brothers transgressions against us.
5 – Pay for help from the Holy Spirit to shield us from temptation (sin). Pray for relief and delivery from trials we encounter on this earth. We need to place our trust in God to lead us through such hard times.
WHY PRAY? (Life Application Commentary)
If God knows what we need, why bother praying?
Because prayer is not like sending an order form to a supplier. Prayer develops an intimate personal relationship with an abundantly loving God, who also happens to know us deeply. His knowledge of us should encourage us toward confident and focused prayer. A child may feel an immediate need for candy; a parent considers the child’s long-term needs. Stretch that parent’s concern and perspective to an infinite dimension, and there you find God’s loving care.
Prayer does not beg favors from a reluctant shopkeeper. Prayer develops the trust that says, “Father, you know best.” Bring your requests confidently to God.
FORGIVING OTHERS (Life Application Commentary)
To forgive completely requires one of the most difficult of all adjustments, but Jesus describes it so simply. Just as we need forgiveness, so we must forgive others.
• You were abused and abandoned. Can you forgive the abuser?
• You were the victim of political oppression or military terror. Can you forgive those who inflicted the pain?
• You thought it was love, but the object of your love has found another. Can you ever forgive that person?
Jesus knows our hurts and wounds. Through the tears, God’s love begins to heal. That’s why forgiveness is complicated but simple. And it’s always the direction God wants your heart to turn, never toward revenge or hate. Forgiving others bears witness to the power of God over the worst that life can deal.
Acts 8:20–22 (NKJV) – Pray for forgiveness:
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
James 1:5 (NKJV) – Pray for wisdom
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Philippians 1:9(ESV) – Pray for Knowledge and Discernment
9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
Psalms 42:8(ESV) – Pray for Love (Also as above in Phil. 1:9 to pray about showing love.)
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
This would mean that men would do well to pray for ‘loving our wives’ as commanded for us to do. Since God commands us, than as a prayer topic it would be honored by God.
We Are to Pray for the Lord’s Leading in Seeking Marriage (24:10–14).The servant has managed the journey to the city of Nahor and now is faced with the task of finding the right family in the city. How will he accomplish that? He prays. He asks the Lord to lead him to the right woman. He not only asks the Lord for guidance and direction, he also places himself in a very good spot to see all the women of the city—at the well. This is where most of the young women will be to get water for their households. So, we are to pray and to trust the Lord to direct us, but there’s nothing wrong with joining a church singles group for an outing or purposely keeping our eyes out for other Christian single people—in fact, it’s advisable. (Quote from: Morgan, R. J. (2007). Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook (2007 Edition., pp. 44–45). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
AND MANY MORE….
In the Bible the word phrase “Pray for” is found 26 times in the ESV version of the Bible – I’ve provided the verses for easy reading…. These offer a caption to focus on the text.
One can continue to use phrases in search for additional scriptural guidelines to learn what to pray for. The research is only beginning by using this method. Better would be to examine the context of “prayer” that the Bible teaches….
Genesis 20:7 (NKJV)
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
1 Samuel 12:17 (NKJV) Praying for daily needs:
17 Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.”
1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV) Pray for another so sin doesn’t overtake them:
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
1 Kings 13:6 (NKJV) We can request others to pray for us:
6 Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.”
So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before.
Ezra 6:10 (NKJV) Sweet aroma of pray….
10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
Job 42:8 (NKJV) God’s Servants Pray for One Another:
8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
Psalm 122:6 (NKJV) Pray for our country:
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
Jeremiah 7:16 (NKJV) and Jeremiah 11:14 – Not pray for the wicked to prosper, but for their salvation.
16 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Jeremiah 11:14 (NKJV) – 14 “So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.
Jeremiah 37:3 (NKJV) Requesting prayer
3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”
Jeremiah 42:20 (NKJV) –Prayer to be in line with God’s rightousness
20 For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) – Pray for those persecuting you…
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Luke 6:28 (NKJV) – Pray for those spiteful toward you.
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Acts 8:24 (NKJV) –Request pray for God’s intervention
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
Romans 8:26 (NKJV) Pray for help from Holy Spirit for our weaknesses…
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
2 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV) – Pray for GRACE to be extended from God
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
2 Corinthians 13:9 (NKJV) – Pray for sanctification (made complete) for self and others in God’s family.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.
Colossians 1:3 (NKJV) – Always ready to give ‘thanks’ to God for all He gives us.
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Colossians 1:9 (NKJV) – Don’t give up on praying for someone….
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1 Thessalonians 5:24–25 (NKJV) – Paul request prayer in his work. Likewise we need to pray for God’s guidance on our work in His name.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NKJV) Pray to remain faithful and a good witness for His Name (holiness).
11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NKJV) Pray that the ‘word’ ‘ Good News’ will be heard and acted upon.
3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
Hebrews 13:18 (NKJV) – Pray for the congregation of believers
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
James 5:16 (NKJV) Pray in confession of our sins… Not in general, but specific item(s). Then ask for Holy Spirit to help steadfastness.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1 John 5:16 (NKJV) Can not pray while in sinful behaviors or thinking.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
The following from: AMG Bible Illustrations. (2000).Bible Illustrations Series. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers
Needs or Wants
A parent does not give a child everything that he asks for. If my little boy came to me and told me just before supper that he wanted a lollipop, should I give it to him? Of course not. Then, if he turns to me and says, “But Daddy, I need it,” he can say it as many times as he wishes. He is not going to get a lollipop just before supper. The expression of a need does not always represent a true need. Many times we act more inconsiderately before our Heavenly Father than our children act before us. We give utterance to our wants as if they were real needs. Let us watch this tendency. God is never fooled. He knows a real need from a want.
Prayer of a Husband and a Wife
Keep us, O Lord, from pettiness. Let us be thoughtful in word and deed. Help us to put away pretense and face each other in deep trust without fear or self-pity. Help us to guard against fault-finding, and be quick to discover the best in each other and in every situation. Guard us from ill temper and hasty judgment; encourage us to take time for all things, to grow calm, serene and gentle. Help us to be generous with kind words and compliments. Teach us never to ignore, never to hurt, never to take each other for granted. Engrave charity and compassion on our hearts.
Prayer Spiritual, Not Material
A father hears that his child has prayed that God would give him a sled; and in order to confirm the child’s trust in God he buys a sled, and slyly puts it in the child’s room the next day, and so cheats the child into a lie, teaching him to believe that he can pray for sleds, and have his prayers answered. But men have found out that in all spheres except the spiritual God acts only generically, leaving germ-forms, primitive organizations, to work out their own functions under human volitions. And even spiritual effects are produced through natural—that is, God-ordained—principles.
