Scripture to Read: Luke 18:1-8
Prayer definitely includes us asking God for specific requests. Even from the parable that Jesus shared in Luke 18:1-8, we find that the widow had a request and that she was persistent in asking for that request to be answered. Note that what the persistent widow was asking for was “legal protection from her opponent,” in Luke 18:3. There are believers all over the world, right now, suffering persecution because of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. A regular part of our prayer requests should include 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. God led Paul to ask the believers in Thessalonica to pray this prayer and, of course, because it is God’s Word, God gave this to us to pray as well. We ought to pray it something like this, “Heavenly Father, I ask you to continue to use me and all of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world so that Your Word spreads rapidly and that You are glorified. I also ask You to please rescue every believer being persecuted by perverse and evil people, for I know that not all have faith in You through our Lord Jesus Christ yet.” Other things we should be asking God for daily, for ourselves, as well as for all believers around the world include the prayer requests in the following Scriptures: Ephesians 1:17-19, Ephesians 3:16-19, Ephesians 6:19-20, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-14, Colossians 4:3-4, Colossians 4:12. God’s desire is for us to ask and to rest in His timing.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about what you ought to be asking Him for daily?
2. How do you see what God has taught you today changing your prayer life?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!