How do we come up with prayer topics? What prayer topics should we pray for?
Several Bible verses answer this question.
1 Timothy 2: 1-10
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
The butterfly Effect.
This entry from the Urban dictionary says the butterfly effect is “the scientific theory that a single occurrence, no matter how small, can change the course of the universe forever.
1. A man traveled back in time to prehistoric ages and stepped on a butterfly, and the universe was entirely different when he got back.
2. The flap of a butterfly’s wings changed the air around it so much that a tornado broke out two continents away.”
Many scientists seem to agree that that a small ripple in one remote part of the world can cause disaster that swallows up the entire world. Many financial crises are that way. Many good things, inventions and discoveries are also that way. It is also true with the weather. Small changes, such as a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world can contribute to hurricanes in another. It is also like that with prayer. A group of Christians praying in one part of the world can change the entire course of history with their prayers. We saw that at the Pentecost. 120 people locked up in an upper room praying for 7 weeks changed the course of history. It brought about the Pentecost. 3000 people were saved on the same day and thousands more later. Now we have Christianity. John Wesley said “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” Yes, God’s will will be done. But not without prayer. He will raise people to pray. Prayer can move God’s hand to do what he would not otherwise have done. In 1 Tim 2 God calls us to pray for “ALL PEOPLE”. Then he goes on to list some important ones. No single person is unimportant. A single person that is not prayed for can be used by the devil to change the course of history adversely. It doesn’t have to be an important person. Of course, we need to pray for presidents and leaders most especially because of their responsibilities.
So some topics become clear from that passage.
1. Pray for all people.
2. Pray for leaders and those in authority–for God’s wisdom & guidance.
3. Pray for the salvation of everybody.
4. In line with salvation: Pray for churches, evangelists, pastors, missionaries, all Christians so that they may yield to the Holy Spirit.
Our Purpose in Life is to Glorify God and Enjoy his Grace for Ever.
The purpose of our prayers must be to glorify God. The motive must be because of love for God and love for one another. To glorify God, we must enjoy his grace. God’s grace is for his glory.
What is God’s plan to glorify himself in the world?
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Jesus is a king bent on recapturing the world which he created and temporarily lost to Satan according to his foreknowledge. He wants every heart to praise him, every knee to bow.
Psalm 67 represents this well.
So we need to pray for god’s glory through discipleship and get involved in it
*** The focus of prayer must always be God’s glory motivated by love and fueled by enjoying God’s grace.
I’ll end this post here. Look forward for another post that will give you more prayer topic ideas from the Bible.