Praying Beyond Quick-Fix Prayers

Can you recall the last time someone told you that he or she was praying for you? No doubt it was meant to reassure you. Telling someone that you’ve prayed concerning a situation is a way of saying I’ve got you covered, don’t worry. Only once do we find Jesus telling someone that He had prayed for that person. It was not a reassuring cliché; Jesus was not praying a quick-fix solution for an everyday need. His prayer focused on the Father’s purposes being accomplished, while surrounded by evil. Jesus spoke directly to Peter even though others could hear Him: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). This was not a warning or a threat. Jesus was not trying to coach Peter in ways to avoid tough circumstances. Jesus was showing not only the power of His prayer but God’s mighty purpose in Peter’s life. Jesus narrowed His prayer just for Peter. Christ looks him in the eye and says, “But I have prayed for you.” His prayer shows that Jesus was focused not only what mattered to one person, but also the greater purposes of God. He prayed “that your faith may not fail.” This simple prayer was attached to a larger purpose: “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” This prayer is not your typical prayer we’d hear today; some would expect Jesus to pray “against” the enemy. But instead of undoing Satan’s plans Jesus simply prayed for something greater that would overcome whatever Satan had plotted. This is not the only way to pray, of course. But it may be the simplest way. Jesus’ prayer was focused beyond the crisis toward the fulfillment of the Father’s eternal purpose. Peter, even though falling would become full of faith so that he would end up strengthening his brothers. During what was obviously a crisis moment in Peter’s life, Jesus prayed a greater prayer that can teach us how to pray beyond crisis in our own friends’ lives. Pray for people instead of merely praying about problems. When we only pray for circumstances to change, we can overlook praying for people themselves to change to be more like Jesus. Pray for people to overcome the enemy to become what God wants them to be rather than against the enemy. Pray before and beyond crisis; you’ve got to pray before a crisis in order to pray through it and then beyond it. Jesus had focused His prayers on what God had purposed for Peter. And you can do the same, for family and friends, as well as cities and peoples. Use God’s Word in praying for His desires. Thanking God for what He’s already done will open the door to deeper prayer for God’s kingdom agenda. When you pray the way Jesus did you can say with faith and assurance to those around you: “But I have prayed for you”. Carolyn “Jo” Gower jogopray@gmail.com