Praying With Purpose

Do you pray in generalities or do you “zero in” on a specific concern? Do you sometimes pray the wrong prayer? Are there times when you don’t know for what to pray?

A few years ago, I fell and broke my hip. I vividly remember the prayer I prayed as I was falling.

“Lord, please don’t let me fall!” It was a little late to pray that prayer…I was already falling! … and, yes, it was in slow motion. I should have been praying, “Lord, please don’t let me break anything”!!!!

Many times short prayers are better than a few long ones. It is often the case when there is not much time to do more than say, Lord, help me, or Lord, have mercy on me. However, needless to say, any amount of time we spend in prayer is good. Often the shortest prayer is the way to the longest answer.

It is good when we can pray for special needs. We pray for God to watch over our children and grandchildren. Yet, when we know their specific needs we can more powerfully pray for those needs.

The same is true when praying for friends. Some time back some of us were praying for a premature baby. One of the ladies in the group prayed that the baby would be able to nurse. The rest of us had not even thought of that concern. As it turned out that little baby really needed that specific prayer. Our friend was moved by the Spirit to pray that prayer.

We need to have our regular times to pray…….that precious time set aside to be in touch with God.

In between time we should have a prayerful mind where prayer is like a second breath to us.

Romans 8:26 reassures us, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Our mental horizons are severely limited compared to what God knows and wills but the Holy Spirit intercedes within us when we are without words to express our needs and requests. Prayer is powerful!

We are blessed to have an open line to our Heavenly Father. Let us not neglect to call upon Him.

O God, help us to keep open the gate of prayer, through which we enter into Thy peace and refresh our spirits. Amen

Jan Knicely, Associate in Ministry emeritus

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church