When I was a kid, my prayers were all about asking God for things—like a new toy or getting an A on my test. I thought prayer was just about presenting my needs to God. But then, in my early teens, I got this little book called “Certain Peace in Uncertain Times” by Shirley Dobson. It changed the way I prayed by giving me a structure to follow using the acronym PRAY:
– P : Praise
– R : Repent
– A : Ask
– Y : Yield
This opened my eyes to a new way of praying.
And then I came across this beautiful passage in the Bible:
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
It made me think more deeply about how we pray. You’ve probably heard the term “shopping list prayers”—it’s when someone’s prayer is mostly a list of personal requests, like asking for help with school, work, or feeling better.
But let’s get one thing straight: there’s nothing wrong with bringing our needs to God! The Bible actually encourages it:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
We all have things we worry about, so of course, we should take our “shopping list” to God. But here’s the exciting part: our prayers can be so much more than that. They can be bigger and more powerful.
The Lord’s Prayer is a great example. It includes asking for our daily needs, but the main focus is on God’s plans, His glory, and His kingdom. And the apostle Paul’s prayers are another great model. They show us how to pray with a focus on God’s purposes.
Want to try praying like Paul? Here are some tips:
1. Read Paul’s Prayers: Check out his prayers in Romans 10:1, Ephesians 1:15-23, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-14, and more. They’re full of deep, spiritual requests.
2. Meditate: Pick a few of these prayers to meditate or write down. Think about what Paul is praying for.
3. Pray for Others: Use Paul’s words in your prayers for friends and family. Insert their names and pray for their spiritual growth and well-being.
4. Focus on God’s Plans: Notice how Paul’s prayers focus on God’s mission and the spread of the gospel. Let this inspire you to pray for big-picture things like the growth of God’s kingdom and His glory in the world.
5. Learn from Others: Watch how mature Christians around you pray. Their prayers can be a great model for expanding your own.
It’s totally okay to pray for your own needs and worries. Just don’t let that be all you pray about. Let’s learn to pray as Jesus taught us and as Paul modeled. Let’s pray for God’s kingdom, His glory, and the spread of the gospel. These are the prayers God loves to answer!
Let’s grow together in our prayer lives and see how God works through our bigger, bolder prayers!
