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A Prayer about Answers to Prayer

A Prayer about Answers to Prayer

Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Mark 11:23

Miracle-Working Father,

We confess, 

we’re a little confused about what Jesus said 

to his disciples about prayer. 

If someone suffering from mental illness 

truly believes that you will heal her psyche, 

will it come to pass?

If someone suffering from quadriplegia 

truly believes that you will make her walk, 

will it come to pass?

What do we make of Jesus’ words, 

“whatever you ask in prayer, 

believe that you have received it, 

and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24)? 

There are no easy answers to these questions. 

What we do know is that we are called to trust in you, 

and we are called to surrender to your will (Matthew 6:10). 

We are called to believe 

that you can toss a mountain into the sea, 

you can heal a hemorrhaging woman (Mark 5:25-34), 

and you can raise your Son from the dead. 

We are also called to pray as Jesus did, 

“Father, all things are possible for you…

Yet not what I will, but what you will…” (Mark 14:36).

Help us Lord, to persist in as-yet-unanswered prayer. 

Help us Lord, to submit to your will 

in the way you answer prayer, 

knowing that you always give us good gifts (Matthew 7:11), 

even if they are not the gifts we think we need.

In Jesus’ trustworthy name. Amen.

Read Mark 11:20-25; Mark 14:36; Matthew 6:9-13.



 

A Prayer about Persistent Prayer

A Prayer about Persistent Prayer

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Good Father,

What a gift you have given us in prayer.

We are timid and doubtful 

and rarely dare to ask or seek or knock 

for the things we really need or want, 

and yet, you command us to do just that. 

The Greek words, “ask,” “seek,” “knock” 

would be better translated, 

“Keep on asking,”

“Keep on seeking,”

“Keep on knocking….”

You want us to ask again and again and again…

for you to transform that stubborn way 

we have of judging others into a gentle spirit 

that assumes the best.

You want us to seek your face 

again and again and again…

when we don’t understand 

why our child has to suffer with cancer 

or a learning disability 

or mental illness

 or loneliness.

You want us to knock again and again and again…

pleading with you to break down the walls 

that divide our world, 

begging you to put an end to all wars.

urging you to display your justice on this earth.

You have shown us that you are indeed a “good Father” 

who gives good gifts to your children.

So today, we ask, we seek, we knock.

[Name some things you’d like to ask your Father for].

In Jesus’ promise-keeping name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 7:7-11.



 

A Prayer about Praying God’s Promises Back to Him

A Prayer about Praying God’s Promises Back to Him

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever. Exodus 32:13

Merciful Lord,

When we have blown it again, 

help us to remember how badly the Israelites had blown it. 

You had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, 

you had provided manna for them in the wilderness, 

you had promised to make them a great nation 

and to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey. 

Moses left to meet with you, 

and the next thing we know, 

the people are asking Aaron 

to “make us gods who shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1). 

And Aaron, Moses’ brother, 

the one you provided for Moses’ help, 

collects gold and fashion a golden calf. 

Holy Lord, do we really comprehend 

what an affront to your holiness this was? 

Moses did. 

He understood that he and his people deserved your wrath. 

And yet, he prayed your promises back to you. 

He did not collapse in self-contempt 

as some of us may do when we’ve blown it again. 

Instead, he reminded you 

of your power 

and your might 

and your plan. 

(As if you needed to be reminded.) 

On that basis, 

he asked for your mercy. 

On that basis, 

he asked for your continued presence. 

On that basis, he asked you to show him your glory (Exodus 32:18). 

Not only did you respond 

by giving Moses a glimpse of your glory 

that would not destroy him, 

you gave us Jesus, 

the very living presence of your glory. 

Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, 

when we have blown it,

we can “with confidence 

draw near to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy 

and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

What great good news this is!

Amen. 

Read Exodus 32-34.



 

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.  Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

Good, Good Father,

May we grasp how precious is the gift of prayer.

Whether we are in trouble or triumph, 

we can cry out to you, with tears or with joy. 

We don’t have to come up with 

highfalutin sounding words. 

In fact, you have given us all the words 

we need to pray. 

When we can’t come up with the words, 

all we have to do is open your Word. 

If we’re feeling sad, there’s: 

“Why are you cast down, 

O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil 

within me? 

Hope in God, 

for I shall again praise him, 

My salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

If we’re feeling delight, 

we shout, 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; 

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 

And when we’re just too numb or confused to pray, 

we have the assurance 

that the Spirit is groaning for us 

and Jesus is interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). 

Thank you, Lord, 

for the sweet communion of prayer.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95. 



 

A Prayer about Praying for the Persecuted

A Prayer about Praying for the Persecuted

Indeed, the hour will come when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.

John 16:2

Lord of Hosts,

Yesterday we prayed about enduring persecution. 

And yet, most of us praying these prayers cannot comprehend the type of persecution endured by many of your followers throughout the world. 

As our pastor pointed out, 

persecution is variable, 

and in many countries of the world, 

your followers are killed or imprisoned 

for being Christians. 

In some countries, those who are not killed 

are deported to labor camps 

as political criminals.** 

In many countries, 

churches are destroyed, 

and your followers experience 

severe discrimination and economic pressure. 

Lord, we ask your protection 

of these Christians 

who courageously live their faith 

in the face of severe persecution. 

Give them courage and endurance

as they cling to Christ their Savior 

for wisdom and hope. 

We pray that those trapped 

in state religions or false religions 

will see the light of Christ 

and respond to him as Lord and Savior.

We pray for children in oppressed countries, 

for their protection, 

that they might hear your Word 

and grow as your disciples.

We pray that we might be bold witnesses, 

faithful to pray 

and to share the hope 

you have given us through our Savior.

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

For more information about the persecuted church worldwide, visit persecution.com and opendoors.org



Growing in Prayer

Growing in Prayer

A Widow’s Story

A young widow who never even had a chance to have children, Anna refused to remarry. Left with a hefty inheritance from her husband’s life insurance and her own family money, she had no need to return to work. With no children and no career and her beloved gone, Anna could have easily become bitter. Instead, she devoted herself to her forever bridegroom—Jesus. She spent hours studying and teaching the Bible. She spent hours hearing and answering God in prayer. She was often the first to arrive at the church on Sunday mornings and the last to leave, opening up the church library, working in the nursery during Sunday school, and staying to chat with newcomers afterwards. In this way, Anna lived a full and happy life for many years.

As Anna aged, she lost some of her abilities to minister in the church as she once had. When her eyesight failed, she was unable to continue as church librarian. When her strength failed, she could no longer care for babies and toddlers in the nursery. When her hearing failed, she struggled to teach and lead Bible study. The losses and limitations of old age did not faze Anna; one steadfast commitment kept her going: communing with her Savior. Because she spent fewer hours in active church ministry, she devoted more hours to praying for others; when she faced physical losses, she prayed fervently that she would accept them graciously. When she felt lonely because she had to be at home alone more often, she imagined eagerly the day she would meet her beloved Bridegroom face to face.

Anna is who I want to be when I grow up. You might think her story is vaguely familiar, and in fact, this Anna is a fictitious character modeled after the 84-year-old widow Anna in Luke 2:36-38. The primary difference between the two women is that the Anna of Scripture was likely impoverished. She did lose her husband at an early age, and she apparently had no children. She lived close to the temple and spent her time “worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” (Luke 2:37). As a prophetess, she heard messages from God and delivered them. She was single-minded in her devotion to the Lord, and her constant communion with him led her to see that her Savior was coming. Because she was looking for her Savior, she easily recognized him when he appeared: “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Anna had waited many years, conversing with the Lord day by day, and she lived expectantly, unshaken by daily trials and sorrows. What led her to be this way?

I believe that one of the main reasons Anna aged so gracefully is that she spent time with the Lord, reading Scripture, and answering God in prayer. Many books have been written about aging gracefully. Few have mentioned prayer as a crucial practice for doing so. Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt, in their book, Aging with Grace, do mention praying, writing about Anna, “Worship in response to the suffering in her life prepared Anna to see Jesus when others did not; she knew him.”[1] Prayer is worship. Prayer is the way we know God. And through prayer, we can graciously accept the losses of aging while anticipating the joy to come when we meet our Savior face to face.

Why pray?

Prayer changes us. Do you fear becoming an entitled old woman or a grumpy old man? Do you fear becoming bitter from the loss of spouse and friends? Do you fear becoming whiny about the chronic pain you might suffer? (I do.) If so, there’s one surefire way to avoid turning into someone you don’t want to be: prayer. Transformation of character as Christians comes through the Holy Spirit, who gives us the power to defeat sin by turning our gaze upon the Beloved. There we see his saving love scripted in his scars.

Author Paul Miller argues that this connection happens through prayer: “Prayer accesses the Spirit of Jesus. The apostle Paul articulates a specific pattern I call the church’s power train: prayer → Spirit → Jesus → power. Our car’s power train moves power from the engine to the transmission and then the wheels.”[2] Since auto metaphors aren’t my strong suit, I like to think in terms of a gardening image. If the Word is a seed planted in good soil, then prayer is the tool the Spirit uses to fertilize that seed, to grow it into bounteous blooms of beauty in our aging souls.

In other words, even as we pray, the truths we know about Jesus move through our veins, energizing us to live in faith, hope, and love. As Walter Marshall affirms, “Prayer is a means of transfiguring you into the likeness of Christ in holiness, making your spiritual face to shine—just as Christ was transfigured in the body when he prayed (Luke 9:29).”[3] Indeed, prayer changes us.

How should we pray?

Eugene Peterson asserts that prayer is “answering God.”[4] God has spoken—he has told us a true story about a Creator King who spoke his creation into being. He loved his people, but they rebelled against their King. Even so, he made a covenant of steadfast love with them and sent his sinless Son, Jesus, to rescue them from their sins. A good Father, he went to extraordinary lengths to adopt His people as his own children, and through the resurrected Christ, he has raised them to new life. One day, he will send Jesus back to restore all broken things. In that day, they will dwell with God forever, and their communication with him will never be broken again. The story God has spoken invites a response. Our response is prayer.

Enabled by the Spirit translator, we speak back to God. We thank God for His kindness, we praise God for His faithfulness, we ask God for forgiveness, protection, and provision. We pray for God’s will to be done and for His kingdom to come.

As we engage in this answering of God, we discover the primary purpose of prayer: “Prayers are not tools for doing or getting, but for being and becoming…. Prayers are tools that God uses to work his will in our bodies and souls. Prayers are tools that collaborate with his work in us.”[5] In short, prayer conforms us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

What should we pray about?

At every age, we will benefit from a regular practice of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (making requests). We will also benefit from regular praying through certain categories: the church: ministry leaders and missionaries, our family, work, the sick and their caregivers, enemies, habitual sins, and growth in fruit of the Spirit are just a few that come to mind. Additionally, as we age, we should begin to pray for courage to handle the challenges we and our peers face: chronic illness or pain, limitations and losses, creating a legacy, caregiving, dying, and anticipating heaven.

How do we begin to pray regularly for these things?

Here are some practical ways to begin to pray more regularly:

  • Make a list. Take ten minutes and list out some of the categories mentioned above. Underneath each topic, list people who fit into that category.

  • If you can, find a Bible verse that relates to that person or circumstance. (Googling makes this a lot easier).

  • Set an alarm for the same time each day (decide on the best time of day for you). At that time, set another timer for ten minutes for prayer. If you spend less time, that’s fine. If you need to go over, do so if you have time.

  • Try turning off music and podcasts in the car. Use that time to pray for people and circumstances that come to mind.

  • Pray the prayers of others. Sometimes praying a prayer another has written can jumpstart our prayers. In our Numbering Your Days network, I offer a daily prayer, posted every morning at 6 a.m. central time. (You are invited to join this free network, using this link: Pastor Scotty Smith also shares gospel-rich daily prayers at The Gospel Coalition website: (You can also subscribe to receive his prayer in your inbox there.)

Anna’s years of praying were answered the day she beheld the infant Jesus, her Savior. What joy she knew on that day! We too will see many prayers answered as we begin to pray regularly. None will be as thrilling as the answer to the prayer, “Come Lord Jesus” (See Revelation 22:17). Indeed, because he is coming soon, let us pray today for our hearts to be prepared for his joyful arrival!


[1] Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt, Aging with Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 52.

[2] Paul E. Miller, A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023), 25.

[3] Walter Marshall and Bruce H. McRae, Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness Byliving in Union with Christ (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2005), 210.

[4] Eugene Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989).

[5] Peterson, 2.