Don't know how to pray?

Is there someone or something in your life that's just weighing on you right now?  

This morning, I was thinking about a person in my life that I am very concerned about and thought, "I'm just not sure how to pray for them."

The Lord reminded me of 2 very important things when it comes to being unsure how to pray.


1. Jesus and the Holy Spirit make intercession for us. 

Honestly, I tend to think about Romans 8:26,34 as if the Savior and the Spirit are interceding for me personally - for my personal needs. They are, but the Lord cares about our burdens. 

Psalm 55:22 (ESV) says, Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.

We know God cares for what's on our hearts. So, when Jesus and the Spirit make intercession for us, they are certainly speaking to the Father about our needs and, I believe, they are carrying our prayers for others to the throne on our behalf, even when we don't know what to say. 



2. Pray in accordance with God's will. 

The second thing I was reminded of this morning is this:

And this is the confidence that we have toward him,that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)

 There are also other passages that speak of asking the Father in accordance with His will. Sometimes, we don't know what His will is in a particular situation or for a particular person. So how do we know we are praying right? 

Pray God's Word. 

This really isn't a new concept but something we don't always think about. How do we "pray the Word"? Just find a verse that applies to whatever it is that is a burden for you right now and use those words as a guide.

For example, if you or someone you know needs peace, pray Psalm 29:11. 

May the Lord give strength to his people. May the Lord bless his people with peace! (ESV)

Father, Your Word says you give your people strength and bless Your people with peace. I pray in Jesus' Name that you will give strength to [yourself or name of person] and bless them with peace. 


If you want to ask the Lord to keep your child from sin, pray Romans 6:13-14.

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  (ESV)

Father, don't allow my son to present himself as an instrument of unrighteousness, but as one who has been brought from death to life, help him to present himself to You as an instrument of righteousness. Remind him that he is under grace - Your grace - and that sin has no dominion over him. May he live for You alone, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen. 


Now please note here that I'm not talking about "vain repetitions"  (Matthew 6:7). It's not about using the Bible as a prayer book to repeat the same words over and over again with little or no meaning. 

Praying God's Word means using His Word as a guide to our prayer so that we know how to pray and know that we are praying in accordance with His will. 

One more example, if I may. I pray for everyone visiting this blog, and for myself, in accordance with God's Word in 2 Chronicles 20:20.

Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (ESV)

Father, Your Word says that if we believe in You and Your Word, we will be established. Father, establish our hearts today, I pray. Help us to set our hearts and our lives on You and Your ways. Prosper us in kingdom living and kingdom service, for Your glory. And, teach us to pray in accordance with Your will. In Jesus' precious and wonderful Name, Amen.