What should we pray for?

If you’re like me, you may feel like your prayer life needs a little push from time to time to break out of its rut. We tend to use the same phrases over and over again. We often automatically use familiar, clichéd phrases, falling into patterns of mechanical repetition.

The devil hates prayer. Our old nature does not love it. Therefore, prayer is not born in us immediately, whole and fervent, from our heart. It requires constant discipline and renewal.

Years ago, when I wrote the book «Let the Nations Rejoice,» I argued that prayer is more like a military radio than a home intercom. God is more like a general in Command Headquarters than a butler waiting to bring you a pillow in the living room. Yet He is also Father, Beloved, Friend, Physician, Shepherd, Helper, King, Savior, Lord, Counselor. But in this fallen, «demonic» world, prayer functions best when our frequency is tuned to the command center in the fight of faith.

When I was writing this book, I compiled everything the early church prayed about, printed it out for myself, and that was my «push.» Perhaps it will be helpful to you too. You may want to print this list out and keep it in your Bible to serve as a guide in your prayers.

Knowing that you are praying according to what the New Testament prays for is a great assurance. It is a safe and powerful way to pray.

«"From time to time our prayers need a shake-up to get out of the rut they've gotten into.".

Prayer remains one of the great and glorious mysteries of the universe—the realization that an all-knowing, all-wise, and sovereign God has chosen to govern His world in response to our prayers is simply mind-boggling. Yet this is what the Scriptures unanimously testify to. God hears and answers the prayers of His people. Oh, do not neglect this marvelous way to influence nations, movements, institutions, churches, and human hearts, especially your own.

If you want to pray like the early church prayed, this list is for you.

Pray that God will glorify His name in the world.

• «Pray, then, like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name» (Matthew 6:9).

Pray that God will extend His Kingdom on earth.

• «Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth» (Matt. 6:10).

Pray that the Gospel will spread quickly and be magnified.

• «Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread and be glorified, just as it did with you» (2 Thess. 3:1).

Pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

• «If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?» (Luke 11:13).
• «and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God» (Eph. 3:19).

Pray that God will protect His people in their struggle.

• «Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? And will he not be long in coming unto them?» (Luke 18:7).

Pray that God will save unbelievers.

• «Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God is for [Israel], that they might be saved» (Rom. 10:1).

Pray that God will guide the use of the sword.

• «Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints» (Eph. 6:17–18).

Pray for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel.

• «Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, when I open my mouth, to make known boldly the mystery of the gospel» (Eph. 6:18–19).
• «Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness.» (Acts 4:29).

Pray for signs and wonders.

• «And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus» (Acts 4:29–30).
• «Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit» (James 5:17–18).

Pray for the healing of wounded comrades.

• «Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him» (James 5:14–15).

Pray for the healing of unbelievers.

• «And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery: and Paul went in unto him, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him» (Acts 28:8).

Pray for the expulsion of demons.

• «And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, but by prayer [and fasting]» (Mark 9:29).

Pray for miraculous deliverances.

• «So Peter was kept in prison. But prayer for him was being made earnestly by the church to God. When he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.» (Acts 12:5, 12).
• «At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains fell off» (Acts 16:25–26).

Pray for the resurrection of the dead.

• «But Peter put them all away, and kneeled down, and prayed. And turning, he said to the body, Tabitha, arise.» And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up” (Acts 9:40).

Pray that God will provide His soldiers (Christians) with the necessities.

• «Give us this day our daily bread» (Matt. 6:11).

Pray for strategic wisdom.

• «If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him.» (James 1:5).

Pray that God will raise up ministers in remote places.

• «And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had believed» (Acts 14:23).

Pray that God will send reinforcements.

• «Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest» (Matt. 9:38).
• «As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, »Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ And when they had fasted and laid their hands on them and prayed, they sent them away” (Acts 13:2–3).

Pray for the success of other missionaries.

• «I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints» (Rom. 15:30–31).

Let us pray for unity and harmony among believers.

• «I pray not for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me» (John 17:20–21).

Let us pray for the strengthening of community.

• «Night and day we pray earnestly that we may see your faces and supply what is lacking in your faith.» (1 Thess. 3:10).

Let us pray for understanding.

• «I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve all things and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ» (Phil. 1:9–10).

Let us pray for the knowledge of God's will.

• «For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding» (Col. 1:9).

Let us pray to know God better.

• «That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God» (Col. 1:10).
• «That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him» (Eph. 1:17).

Let us pray for the strength to know the love of Christ.

• «For this reason I bow my knees before the Father [our Lord Jesus Christ], that with all the saints I may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God» (Eph. 3:14, 18–19).

Let us pray for a deeper sense of confidence in hope.

• «I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, the eyes of your heart being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.» (Eph. 1:16, 18).

We pray for strength and endurance.

• «Being strengthened with all might, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience. With joy» (Col. 1:11).
• «That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man» (Eph. 3:16).

We pray for a deeper awareness of the power of God within you.

• «I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, the eyes of your heart being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power» (Eph. 1:16, 18–19).

We pray that your faith will not be destroyed.

• «I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers» (Luke 22:32).
• «Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man» (Luke 21:36).

Let us pray for greater faith.

• «Then the father of the child cried out [with tears], »I believe! Help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24).
• «That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love» (Eph. 3:17).

Let us pray that we do not fall into temptation.

• «And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For] thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen» (Matt. 6:13).
• «Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak» (Matt. 26:41).

We pray that God will fulfill your good intentions.

• «This is why we always pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling and may fill you with power in every good desire and every work of faith» (2 Thess. 1:11).

We pray that you will do good deeds.

• «That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God» (Col. 1:10).

We pray for the forgiveness of your sins.

• «And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors» (Matt. 6:12).

Let us pray for protection from the evil one.

• «And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen» (Matt. 6:13).