Praying the Right Way

There is some Christian conversation on whether one has to pray or not. Some feel that God already knows so in the (in)famous retort of Gilda Radner “Why bother?” Prolific author CH Spurgeon, one of my favorites, (AKA The Prince of Preachers), is on the Yes side.

My concern is that many who do pray don’t have the proper approach. They either ask God to take some bad thing away or to give them some good thing. Presbyterian publication These Days hits the nail on the head: 

• “do not tell God what (you) must have; “ask what God would have (you) do.”
• “do not tell God the direction God should take; “ask God to guide (you).”
• “do not hold up to God (your) dreams and visions; “ask God to grant (you) dreams and visions.”
  (“These Moments”, Sylvia Cleland. October, November, December 2010)

The Christian Bible endorses bringing all things to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6; Proverbs 3:6; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1). Thus, the framework these intercessory prayers should take is to ask God to help you through whatever circumstance you are in.

Some suggestions on how to approach this are as follows:

• Instead of Saying: I can't take this any more. Say: God, please give me the strength to cope with this.
• Instead of Saying: Let me win the lotto. Say: God, please give me the means to meet my obligations.
• Instead of Saying: I can't stand that person/those people. Say: God, please give me tolerance of others.
• Instead of Saying: That person's doing something wrong. Say: God, please show them the way to enlightenment.
• Instead of Saying: Why is this happening to me? Say: God, please show me the way to enlightenment.
• Instead of Saying: Why is it always me? Say: God, please show me that I am not alone and will overcome.
• Instead of Saying: I feel broken inside. Say: God, please show me how to become whole.
• Instead of Saying: I feel despair. Say: God, please let me feel hope.
• Instead of Saying: I can't forgive… Say: God, please show me how to forgive.
• Instead of Saying: I can't forget… Say: God, please help me find peace.
  Source: old chain e-mail