Attitudes for Prayer

Prayer doesn’t have a set form or place. We can talk with God any time, any place, in many ways. We can pray quietly in our thoughts, pray audibly, or pray in writing or with song. If we listen, the Holy Spirit may impress us how to pray. Paul says, “In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.” (Romans 8:26, CEV) God’s word is powerful, powerful enough to create the world. God will do what He says He’ll do. (Isaiah 55:11) As we pray, we can acknowledge that greatness and power, requesting that God be present with us.

Tell God that you believe that He’ll honor any promise that you find in Scripture. The timing, though, is up to Him. For example, sometimes healing will happen only in heaven. But it will happen. Prayers which may be unanswered here on earth will be answered in heaven. Continuing to pray builds treasure for heaven, like putting money in a savings account for later. So leave the timing with God.

Ask humbly, leaving room for God to work His will. Be willing to have your own plans changed if God has a different plan.

And ask with gratitude. A woman had been badly hurt by another. The pain was so great that she didn’t think she could handle it. Sitting in church, she considered walking out. Suddenly, a thought popped into her head, “Thank God for the pain.” Without even thinking about it she quietly whispered, “Oh God, thank you for this pain.” Immediately the pain left. In its place was peace. Having pain shows us we are alive, and sensitive. If we didn’t hurt when people do cruel things to us, we wouldn’t be much good for loving, either.

We all need forgiveness. We all have done things that we wish we hadn’t. We all have traits we wish were better. God promises to forgive those things and to cleanse us—to make us better. (I John 1:9)

We all need to forgive, too. (Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 6:14) Since forgiving others is God’s will, we can ask God to give us the forgiveness we need to give.

Corrie ten Boom saw terrible things in German concentration camps during World War II. After the war she gave talks about God’s forgiveness. The approach of a former German officer tested her attitude of forgiveness. Corrie recognized the man as one of her torturers. He did not recognize her.

“Your talk about forgiveness was wonderful,” the man began. “I was a guard. I need to know that I’m forgiven for my atrocities. Will you forgive me?”

Corrie tried to lift her hand to shake his. She couldn’t. Quickly she offered a silent prayer. “God, I will go through the motions, but you will have to supply the feeling.” As she gripped his hand, warmth started in her hand and spread up her arm and through her body. Feelings of forgiveness washed over her.

When we are by ourselves with God we can say exactly what we feel. We can talk just as we would to a friend knowing that the friend knows us in good and bad times and will see us for our good. Alone with God we can pray about issues that we may not want to tell others. Laying it all out before Him, we can find peace, direction, guidance. And God can use our personal, individual prayers to lead others to Him and to His peace, as well.