What to pray for?
21 Days of Prayer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
praying about what to pray about
What has God placed on your heart?
Verses on:
Healing for self and others
Ask for anything in my name
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Anything
Talk to God About Someone in Need
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Why it matters: Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi to ensure they had the right priorities as a community of Jesus followers. He knew that their unity was under threat because of the fierce opposition they faced for their beliefs. He wrote the letter from prison, where he had been placed for preaching the gospel.
It’s very easy, when you pray, to get bogged down in talking with God about all the things going on in your own life. This verse reminds you that, as a Christian, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to pray for the people you care about, and even for people you have never met.
As you pray, try to develop the habit of setting aside time to talk with God about other people. Share your concerns for them because He cares. One of the most practical ways you can help anyone is to invite God into their present situation.
How you might pray
Father God, I know You care deeply about the people in my life. Right now _______ is struggling with _______. I want them to know You love them and are ready to help them through this time.
Pray for Someone Who Does Not Yet Know Jesus
“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with His promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.”
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Why it matters: For followers of Jesus, it’s important to have a sense of urgency and not take for granted that God gives everyone their time on earth as a chance to come to know Him. The author of the passage above, Peter, was warning the people he was writing to that human history as they knew it would come to an end when Jesus returns.
It’s important to remember that you don’t have all the time in the world to address the issues in your life and community. But at the same time, God works on a very different timeline than you do.
All of this is vital when it comes to having the right attitude as you pray for people who do not yet know Jesus. In today’s culture, everyone is used to receiving fast or immediate responses to most of our requests or needs. God may not always answer you with the speed you would like, but that is because He knows everything that will happen over the course of your life and the lives of the people you care about. God’s timing is perfect, and He knows when you need to persevere in prayer for someone you are desperate to see come to know Him.
So as you pray for people you hope will know and experience God’s perfect love, it’s vital that you learn to trust in God and His timetable rather than insisting He work on yours. Otherwise, you are likely to become frustrated and even bitter about what you wrongly see as unanswered prayers.
Don’t give up. Keep praying. God loves and cares about the person you are praying for more than you could even hope or imagine.
How you might pray
Thank You, God, for pursuing me before I took You seriously. Please show _______ how much You love them in a way they can understand, and use me to invite _______ into a relationship with You. Show me how to care for them and show them Your love. Help me to trust in Your perfect timing, God, and not give up.
Pray That You Would Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Why it matters: Enemies come in various forms, some seemingly greater than others. For the crowds listening to Jesus, the word “enemy” would have triggered thoughts both of feuds within their own communities and families and of external threats to their very way of life and integrity as the nation of Israel.
Now here comes Jesus, telling them that loving God and loving others requires them to do the opposite of what comes naturally: to love those enemies. His teaching is completely consistent with what God was demonstrating through the life of Jesus Himself. He came to earth to rescue God’s enemies to their heavenly Father by giving of His own life for them in every way He could — including suffering and death.
Perhaps “enemy” feels like too strong a word for people you find it difficult to love. You may have a very clear picture of who has been an enemy in your life, or you may not. But as you pray, ask God to show you who you’ve been viewing as an enemy and invite Him to change your heart toward them. Ask Him to show you how you can love them in tangible ways.
How you might pray
Father, whether I’m aware of it or not, I know there are people in my life I feel angry toward or hurt by. Give me the humility I need to forgive them, love them and pray for them without expecting or needing anything in return.
Pray for Your City, Nation and Civic Leaders
What the Bible says
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
Why it matters: These verses can serve as a prompt to think about the broader communities you are a part of, such as your city and your nation. The Christians in Jesus’ time were living under the authority and overwhelming power of the Roman Empire.
In our time, this command is as relevant as ever. It’s easy to pray for political and cultural leaders you already agree with. But are you willing to bridge the divides in our culture by praying for those you disagree with?
How you might pray
Father, draw people in our community closer to You, and use me to change the community I am part of. Give the leaders in my city and my nation wisdom as they make decisions each day. Help me to become more conscious of the needs of Your people and to think beyond my own immediate community.
Pray for Hope and Courage
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Why it matters: Jesus knew that if His disciples thought of their lives only in terms of their time on earth, they would end up hopeless and disappointed. He knew every struggle and persecution they would face — even the ways they would die.
So in His final conversation with them before He was taken to be crucified, Jesus made sure to teach them about looking at life from an eternal perspective, the way God does. They would face many days that would feel like defeat unless they entered them already knowing that victory was ultimately theirs because of Jesus.
“In this world,” Jesus said, “you will have trouble.” You may be experiencing sickness, the death of a person you love or family conflicts. But embracing Jesus’ victory can give you the hope and courage to face life’s challenges.
How you might pray
Father, you have given Jesus victory over death. Help all who suffer to know your mercy and kindness, including persecuted believers around the world. Give us the courage to face life’s challenges, the hope to look beyond present circumstances and the faith to trust that You are good.
Pray for healing
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Pray for blessing.
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Pray for things you’re worried or anxious about.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.