Read your Bible; pray everyday–
And you’ll grow, grow, grow!

I grew up a prayer list kid. We Sabbath School kids would vie for the dry-erase marker when Sabbath School was coming to a close so we could scribble the prayer requests on the board. Then we’d get to pray for all the requests of our peers.

Back then, we prayed for things like rollerblades, sick grandparents, and good grades.

As an adult, my prayers haven’t been much different. I remember praying for my kids as soon as I found out I was pregnant with them. I pray for their future. I have prayed for their health and our family’s finances. I have prayed for sick relatives and cars to be repaired by some miracle. I have prayed for friends and family to know the Lord and even prayed for my enemies until God somehow helped me forgive them.

It’s only been recent that I’ve rethought how and why I pray. It’s only been recent that I even considered why Jesus prayed. He was God, after all.

Pray for Peace

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Scripture doesn’t guarantee peace when we ask for it, but praying during a moment of anxiety will result in peace from God to guard our hearts and minds against it.

When 31% of U.S. adults struggle with anxiety, we need peace.

Pray for Your Enemies

Matthew 5:44-45 says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Scripture never promises to be free from bullying or persecution, but Matthew says plainly that when we pray for those who persecute us and love our enemies, we can be sons of our Father in heaven.

We are adopted sons and daughters, and praying for those who do evil to us and those who do good, is one way to be more like our Father and to be His sons and daughters.

Pray for God’s Mission

Colossians 4:3-4 says, “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

Paul asks the Colossians to pray for him and the other apostles who spread the gospel of Christ. He believes these prayers can help the apostles relay this message. When we pray for God’s mission to work through us, we too can help relay the message of Jesus Christ.

Pray for Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

Scripture tells us it is pleasing in God’s sight that we should pray for kings and all those in high positions. That means we should pray for our presidents, royal families, congressmen, and councilmen. We should pray for our World Church leaders and our local church pastors, elders, and teachers. We should pray for those we elect and those we don’t–those we support and those we don’t.

Pray to Communicate with God

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.”

When Solomon was finished with the temple, God visited Him to share with Solomon that He had heard his prayers. He told Solomon what could be expected of prayers said in the temple–God would hear and see, forgive the people, and heal the land.

Too often, we pray thinking we believe, but we ask, hoping–not believing. One thing we don’t have to wonder is whether or not God hears and is listening. He said it, so it’s true.