God’s Word is filled with many examples of prayers from those who walked closely with Him and cried out in both difficult days and times of great blessing. And those heart-felt, spirit-led prayers have the power to awaken our faith still today. The words may be simple, but they’re dangerous in our spiritual lives and to this world in every good way.
They stir up within us a desire to live fully and completely for God alone. They remind us there’s more to this life than what we see around us. And they call us to look up to God and away from the things of this temporary world. This is what will pave the way for a greater work within our hearts and souls. May His Spirit breathe renewal and strength into our lives today, reminding us that He is with us always, and He is mighty.
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Dear God,
We’re hurting and desperate, on our face before you. If there’s any way you can take away this difficult trial, this painful battle, we ask for your hand to remove it. But more than anything we pray, may your will be done. In it all, through it all, no matter what, we trust you Lord. And we thank you that you’re with us always.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
The greatest examples of prayer in the Bible come from Christ Himself. And in one of His deepest moments of anguish, as He faced the reality of the cross that lay before Him, we see Him pray these powerful words:
“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)
“He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)
When our prayers are filled with these words and our hearts cry out for God’s will, instead of our own, we have renewed vision for even the most difficult circumstances we might be facing. We understand that our darkest days may be more about those around us, than only about us and our journey. Jesus knew and understood that fully. Though He prayed for another way, if at all possible, He was open to whatever God’s perfect will would be, knowing that His life was being given as a sacrificial gift so that we could live free. And He was willing to accept the reality and cost, that there was no other way.
Dear God,
We give you praise, for nothing is too difficult for you. You know our heart’s longing and desire; you know all that concerns us. We ask for your great favor, blessings, and answer to our prayer. We commit your gracious gifts back into your hands, believing that your timing and purposes are far greater than ours. Thank you for the goodness you’ve shown to us, thank you that your ways are perfect.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Hannah knew what it was to pray dangerous prayers. She’d been crying out to God for years, desperate, heart-broken, and grieved deeply in her spirit. But she believed in her mighty God, she knew nothing was too difficult for Him, and that only there would she find an answer to her prayer.
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head… So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11, 20)
Yet she didn’t stop at her constant request for a child. She committed to giving her precious son back into the hands of God. And she did. Hannah’s great faithfulness and trust in God’s ways are a reminder to us today of His powerful timing and purposes. She had no idea the mighty man of God that Samuel would grow up to be. But God did. And often it’s His greatest and most miraculous gifts that come to us through a long labor of prayer. He so longs to give us our hearts’ desires. And even more than that, He longs for our hearts to be completely His.
Dear God,
Your name is holy, and we give you honor and praise for who you are! We pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done, here on earth, as it is in heaven. We ask for your provision today, for you already know every need that we have. Please forgive us for our sin, just as you are constantly helping us to be forgiving towards others. Fill us with your strength and wisdom Lord, to see the traps of the enemy. May we walk in your Spirit today, and every day. We depend fully on you, and thank you for your great mercy and care.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer is the very model that Jesus used to teach us how to pray. He shows us here some important reminders of what to incorporate into our prayers, but His very words within this prayer are so incredibly powerful.
“This, then, is how you should pray, ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)
God asks us to come to Him to ask for forgiveness from the wrong we have done. It’s that important to confess our sin and humble ourselves before Him, recognizing that we need a Savior. But He didn’t stop there. He tells us that He offers us forgiveness, “as we also have forgiven our debtors…” The truth is, when we have truly understood how very much we have been forgiven, how can we not also forgive others around us?
We never deserve God’s forgiveness, it’s the gift of Christ on our behalf that we can be cleansed in His eyes. And though we may also feel that someone who has wronged us doesn’t rightly “deserve” our forgiveness, it is the gift of His mercy and love working within us that helps us choose the path of forgiveness.
And many times it’s a journey, a long walk through daily choosing forgiveness over anger, bitterness, hate, and holding onto our grudges. It’s coming alongside that other person in the spiritual realm and saying, “Though what you did was wrong, God is greater than any evil. And just as He’s forgiven me, I choose to forgive you, and pray that you will know His powerful love and forgiveness too.” We have no idea this side of heaven, how our prayers for those around us, the very people that have deeply hurt us, will impact their lives and future for eternity.
In every verse and prayer we read in God’s Word, He reminds us that He knows our hearts, and will help us in our weaknesses. Sometimes we struggle to find the right words to say. Our hearts may be hurting, or we’re confused and just don’t even know what to pray. Other days it’s a battle to simply find a quiet place or even make time to pray. Interruptions abound and life seems too busy and full. There will always be distractions and difficulties to keep us from praying dangerous, Spirit-led prayers. But God promises He is there and reminds us: The key to powerful prayer isn’t found in using just the right words, but in a heart seeking after God, who makes the time to just pray.
No matter our circumstances or even the specific words we use when we pray, we can trust that God hears. He promises to work powerfully through the lives of all those who come before Him with their cares, burdens, weaknesses, and needs. He will never turn away from our cries for His help and strength. Our hearts, eyes, and lives focused first on Him, praying His words back to Him – the most powerful place we can be.
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This article is part of our larger Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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