Part 2: WHAT DO I ASK FOR
In Part 1, we dispelled the notion that since God knows all, we don’t have to present our requests to him. God is omniscient, but he does want to hear from us.
Let’s now discuss another reason we fail to ask God for anything.
As I bowed my head in prayer, I was stymied. So many pleas swirled: my family’s well-being, my health and well-being, my new role at church, tires for my car, my nonexistent relationship, my friends’ challenges, multiple volunteer responsibilities, sanity in the U.S. leadership, world peace. I finally cried out, “Lord, I want to ask you for so much, but I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat: Daddy, give me this. Daddy, I want that.
So much, and I didn’t know where to begin. What’s the priority? Where do I start? Admittedly, in that moment, I felt like giving up, i.e., not praying. But isn’t that what the enemy wants? Doesn’t the devil use confusion to interrupt our relationship with the Almighty?
Failure to Ask #2: We Don’t Know What to Ask
None of us wants to enter prayer with a grocery list of “I want.” We don’t want to treat God like Santa Claus. However, if you are like me, there are times when life is overwhelming, i.e., life is life-ing. Our pleas seem endless, so much so that we don’t know where to start. How do we ask God when we’re unsure of what to petition?
When we are in that situation, consider these two tips:
Take a Breath[1]
In that moment of prayer despair, I took a deep breath. When we find we have so many appeals that we become incoherent, stop. Take a breath: a slow inhalation and exhalation. That breath can calm us, clearing our minds of tumultuous thoughts. That breath can shift the emphasis from ourselves to the majesty of God. Our needs haven’t disappeared; however, our mental chaos may have. Taking that breath brings our focus back to why we pray—to commune with God.
Replacement Therapy[2]
I panicked a wee bit when I didn’t know what to ask. The breath did clear my mind and remind me that I have a helper—the Holy Spirit. I beseeched the Holy Spirit’s intervention; the Holy Spirit replaced my supplications with a simple prayer: “Lord, let me be a magnifier of you!”. In our moment of prayer chaos, pray for the Holy Spirit’s intercession. Be still and allow the Holy Spirit’s groanings to speak to and for us.
From Chaos to Clarity
How do these tips help us to present our requests to God? True, while neither provides a specific asking strategy, both provide a way to clear our minds when we don’t know what to ask. Use these tips to disperse the mental fog, to dispel the turmoil, to dissipate the confusion. I propose that a clear mind focused on God and directed by the Holy Spirit will enable us to kneel before God to clearly and humbly express our needs to him.
Reflection
Take a breath. Allow the Holy Spirit to intercede. Those two simple acts clear our minds. We can pray with a sober mind, without chaos. Most importantly, it negates the devil’s attempts to separate us from God. Read 1 Peter 5:8
What steps do you take when too many thoughts interfere with your prayer? Please share in the comment section below.
Thanks for this reminder Bri. Stopping and breathing helps to quiet a racing mind. I found it way easier to hear God clearly in the confusion. Of my thoughts and trying to understand how I truly feel about different situations.
I agree – when I can quiet my racing mind, I can hear God better. Sometimes listening to instrumental gospel music helps me.
Thank you Bri, you did it again!! Getting me out of my own zone. Just by exhaling and letting air flow through my mind to release the uncertainty of life’s going on. Thanks for posting, because someone like me needed to read it. Amen
You are so welcome, Paulette. Exhaling releases all the negativity and toxins, allowing for a clean mind.
I find I do a great deal of talking to God when I am in my car! I have time for my own thoughts to flow and sometimes my tears as well. I start spewing random things then, I begin with specifics.
My mind focuses first on my father. Because of my mother’s passing I know what is in store for me with my dad. He is in relatively good health except for the aches and pains but, knowing that having these aches and pains are getting more severe and intense they could make you wish you weren’t alive. I pray for his longevity which is selfish but, what do ya expect? I make sure those prayers are clear,
But then, I ramble on and get it out all the other prayers. Mostly regarding the state of the world. To be honest, I think that would improve all of our state of being and prayers would be easier for us all.
I pray the world changes course. AMEN
Alone time in the car is great, especially with the radio off. As for your prayer being “selfish,” my thought is you should always pray for yourself! Praying for self is not selfish – it’s you expressing to God what you need and desire. Who better can do that than yourself?