One of the many questions I’ve received from people is how to pray for something specific. Knowing how to ask specifically for things in prayer can be tough, especially when you need/want many things for yourself and others. In this post, I’ll share tips on how to pray effectively for the things you want. I hope this will help you grow closer to God and experience His power in your life!
On that note, let’s dive in.
Can you pray for specific things?
Yes, you should be specific in prayer because it can change your life. Imagine your child asking you for several things he wants and needs. You can decide what he needs at that instance and give it to him while other requests remain pending.
A similar scenario occurs between God and us when we ask him for things. We ask for too many things, including the ones we need and those we don’t need. Asking for all you want is fine, but it’s better to be specific.
God already knows your thoughts and what you’re looking for, but it’s best if we make our requests known to Him through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6).
There are stories in the Bible where Jesus asks men to be specific about what they want. For example, you can find a prominent story in the gospel of Matthew 20:29-34. It reveals the story of the two blind men praying for mercy.
Eventually, when they got Christ’s attention, He asked them to be specific about what they wanted.
Being vague with your prayer requests is a waste of time, so it’s best to learn to pray for something specific.
Being specific with what you want in prayer can be a faith-shaking experience because the what-ifs will pop up in your mind.
When we learn to pray for something specific, it allows us to entrust our deepest secrets to God, who loves us unconditionally.
How to Pray for Something Specific
In this section, we’ll explore how to pray for something specific.
1. Set an Atmosphere for Prayer
That’s right! You have to prepare to pray, which requires setting the right atmosphere. Prayer is a dialogue with your God; you don’t want to begin the conversation and then get distracted by your environment or some internal issues you’re dealing with. Before praying, set the atmosphere that will put you in the mood.
Some people set the atmosphere by secluding themselves and playing worship songs. You should also stay calm and avoid issues that could tamper with the atmosphere you’ve set up for prayer.
2. Pray According to God’s Will
Praying according to God’s will over your needs and desires is also essential. Apart from the Lord’s prayer, where Jesus Christ modeled a heart of obedience and submission to God’s will, he also shows this in the Garden of Gethsemane. Just hours before His crucifixion, his prayer was ‘not my will, but yours be done.”
We live in a world where the future is uncertain. Ensure you pray according to God’s will because we know with complete certainty that God’s plan for those who love Him is good.
3. Start by Giving God Gratitude.
In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
It’s essential to begin praying for something specific by giving God gratitude.
Give God thanks for speaking to Him and for the other things he has done for you. Today, most Christians approach God with complaints and petitions. If you want to pray for a specific thing and get the result you’re looking for, start your prayers with thanksgiving. Your gratitude will bring you directly into God’s presence and show you’re not only coming to God as an ungrateful person.
4. Check Your Motives/Intentions
Before you approach God for something specific, you must look inward at the reason behind your request. Is it pure, or does it go against God’s command? This is an important question, or you might not get an answer to your prayer. But, on the other hand, our prayer’s motivations might be why our requests are denied and rejected.
In James 4:3, we learn that we ask and don’t receive because of our lust. If your specific prayer only satisfies your pleasure rather than for the glory of God, you might not get the answer you’re hoping for.
5. Ask God for Grace to Be Happy with His Decision
When we ask God for something, we trust and believe he will supply our needs. However, we also need to believe that God knows best; his answer might not be what we’re looking for. While making your requests known to God, you should also ensure that you’re prepared to accept whatever answer He gives you, even if it’s not the one you’re looking for.
6. Pray with God’s Word
When making your requests known to God, you must also research God’s word to support your request. The Scripture contains all of God’s promises for you, and knowing these promises puts you at an advantage. Knowing God’s word concerning your request will give you the boldness to make your request known and foster faith in your heart. If He did it before, He can do it again.
7. Don’t Stop Praying
When learning to pray for something specific, one of the essential steps you need to take is to pray consistently. Don’t just give up when you do not see results immediately. Instead, ask for the grace to not feel discouraged. Pray continually; even when it doesn’t look like your prayers are getting answered.
Being persistent in your prayer isn’t because God isn’t listening; it’s because Jesus commanded it. So keep praying till your miracle shows up. The early church is a clear example of why you shouldn’t stop praying. They prayed ceaselessly when Peter was arrested, and miraculously, an angel rescued Him.
8. Repent of Your Sins
It’s easy to get tempted and distracted in today’s world. Due to this, staying faithful can be quite a challenge for God’s children, causing us to displease God. Therefore, we must acknowledge and repent of every sin we’ve committed. Jer. 5:25 makes it clear that our sins can cause us not to get things we ask for from God.
This shows your regard for God and also improves your relationship with God. It also increases your chances of your prayer being answered. The Bible states that the prayer of the upright is God’s delight (Proverbs 15:8). Therefore, it’s vital to make our way right with God before making requests from Him.
9. Write Down Any Leadings, Visions, and Revelations
God reveals His secrets to those who love and fear Him. He also makes revelations to those who sincerely ask him questions. Therefore, God might show you visions or make revelations when you trust Him in all your ways and try to find solutions to your problems in Him and His word.
When God gives you revelation into any aspect of your life, you need to write it down immediately. This is because leadings, visions, and revelations revealed to us might not make sense immediately, but we can go back to them later and reflect on them.
Writing down visions and revelations from God will keep it fresh in your mind.
How Do You Get God to Answer Your Prayers?
You Don’t. Answering Your Prayer Is at His Discretion
When you’re praying for something, you should note that you cannot get God to answer your prayer or give you the answer you want. This is at His discretion, which is why one of the steps is learning to accept God’s decision.
What does the Bible say about praying for specific things?
We’ve already mentioned bible verses about praying for specific things in the course of this article. Here are some more, including examples of specific prayers in the bible.
- James 4:3
- Matthew 20:30-34
- John 14:13-14
Specific Prayer Examples In The Bible include
- Hannah’s prayer for a son in 1 Sam 9:28
- Esther’s prayer for favor in the king’s sight. Est 4:16.
- Nehemiah’s prayer for favor in the king’s sight in Neh. 1:11 KJV.
- Jabez prayer in 1 Chron. 4:10
Wrapping Up
You should learn to pray for specific things. It may take time before you see an answer as was the case with Nehemiah, but you’d definitely see an answer, if you pray according to God’s will, and you aren’t praying to fulfill your own desires. God bless you.
