I originally wrote this article for Pray! back in 2000.  I think it is still foundational for any biblical perspective on prayer.  Hope you find it helpful.

Jessica was 18 years old when she died.  My wife and I had anxiously waited with her parents for five and a half days, fervently praying along with hundreds of others from our church and throughout the country that God would heal their precious daughter. Jessica loved God more passionately than most of the teens we knew. She had served in missions projects overseas, shared her faith regularly, and lived life to the fullest. She had more friends than some towns have residents!

Then there’s Kathy, a wife and mother of three, who went from a seemingly healthy woman in her 40’s into a “responsive coma,” apparently due to a virus in her brain. For several days Kathy lay in the hospital waving her arms erratically – “tremoring,” the doctors called it. The medical staff, however, could not determine the cause of the problem.

Several days after Kathy was admitted, I was on the phone with her husband. At that moment, Kathy’s doctor walked into the waiting rooms to tell him that his wife had just awakened. By that evening, Kathy was talking, and by the next day, she was back to normal. We celebrated in our worship services the following Sunday. The prayers of the saints had clearly been answered.

Most of us can tell two stories of our own with similarly opposite outcomes. It draws us to an obvious question: Why was Kathy healed but not Jessica? Both were wonderfully godly; both had scores of people passionately praying for them.

Mere human logic would suggest that Jessica should have lived since she was so much younger. Is God just not watching some of the time? Was there some hidden sin that kept Jessica from her own special touch from God?  Did those of us who were praying not have enough faith?

We know that sometimes prayers don’t get answered because of a lack of faith. And yes, God sometimes disciplines us, even harshly at times, by bringing temporary sorrow and hurt into our lives. But why does someone else pray for a new job and start the next week at higher pay, when we prayed just as much and are still looking?

Why do some Christians practically receive handwriting on the wall when seeking God’s direction, while others who are just as committed believers feel as though God is playing hide-and-seek with His will?

The answers to these questions can’t just come from the “not enough faith” or “God is disciplining you” categories. The best answers, I believe, are found in what Jesus said in conjunction with His “Ask and it shall be given” statements recorded by John.  Though we must remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (see Isaiah 55:9), there are five principles that will always be a part of answered prayer.

1. God will be glorified

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13).

Some would ask, “Wouldn’t  Jessica’s miraculous healing have brought glory to the Father?”  I know I asked that question at least a hundred times, and her parents must have asked it more.

Yet God, in His sovereignty, knew that He would receive great glory through her death. Hundreds of people, at Jessica’s visitation, and funeral, heard the gospel and a vivid testimony of what the Lord had done in her life. Many young people came to Christ in the weeks that followed, and Jessica’s influence is still felt among those who knew her well.

The worship service after Kathy’s recovery also was filled with emotion that powerfully affected, and continues to affect, the people who participated. We must let God determine how His glory will be appropriated.

2. We will bear much fruit.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15: 7-8).

We often ask God for things that will make us feel better now, but which will keep us from bearing more fruit in the long run. Great fruit takes time, the right fertilizers, and the right conditions. Sometimes God is coordinating these elements in our lives while we see only a “no” to our requests.

What if your children asked you to plant an orange tree in your yard in Minnesota? You would turn them down, not because you don’t love them or want good things for them, but because you know their tree would never bear fruit.

3. We must ask in Jesus’ name. 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 15:16).

As I was growing up, I was always taught to end my prayers, “In Jesus’ name. Amen.”  But I’ve learned since that praying in His name means far more than tagging a phrase at the end of our prayers.

Imagine that someone calls the local police department, says that they’re going to shoot someone in the next hour and asks for money to stop the crime -  then gives your name!  Thankfully, the officer knows you personally and immediately realizes it couldn’t be you.

Why?  Because he knows that what is being asked for and done doesn’t match the character of the name given. In the same way, our prayer requests must match the character of the one in whose name we pray. When we pray selfishly, or out of greediness, or in bitterness and rage, for instance we aren’t praying in accordance with the character of Jesus.

When we truly ask in Jesus’ name, we are simply requesting that He act in accordance with who He already is.

4. It will bring us joy.

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).

Scores of things can give us temporary happiness or pleasure. But joy is deeper, more penetrating.

It’s the assurance that even in the middle of the worst, God is in control. We experience joy when we see the greatness of God at work. God longs to answer our prayer in ways that will reveal his awesomeness.

To trust God to answer us in a way that will bring us joy, however, may require the most faith of all. We have to trust God for the big picture. Sometimes He does things that don’t make sense to us, at least for now. It is as though we are stuck in traffic on the freeway, praying for escape. God is the helicopter pilot who views the entire freeway network. We need to trust that He will guide us out of the snarl and where we need to go.

When Jessica’s parents lost her, the emotional traffic in their lives nearly brought them to a standstill. Yet they, along with the rest of us who were there when she died, tasted the deep emotion of encountering God Himself, standing at the door of eternity. It was a moment of pure joy which I have come to describe as an “exhilarating terror.”

 5. We must submit our requests to God’s will.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of  him.”

Another tag line that, regrettably, often gets randomly attached to prayer is “if it’s your will, Lord.” Asking according to His will does not mean that we come before the God of the universe passively or on the fence about our requests.

It’s still true that we often “do not have because we do not ask” (James 2:4 NASB).

But I’ll never forget walking through the hospital cafeteria with Jessica’s dad several days before her death. We had just approached the salad bar when he abruptly stopped, closed his eyes, extended his arms from the waist, and opened his hands. He didn’t have to say a word-the tears began to roll down both our faces.

He repeated that gesture several times in the days that followed. It was an outward expression of what he knew inside he had to do: give his dear daughter into the Father’s hands so that His will might be carried out.

To submit our prayers to God’s will means that we will come to Him with a heart of humility and reverence. It means that we have studied His Word for guidance on what His will really involves. It means admitting that in this life our motives and attitudes still can be tainted, deceived, and focused on self. Ultimately, it means that we leave the results to God.

Think about a difficult situation for which you’ve prayed but received no answer. Consider bringing it before the Lord again and asking Him to help you see how He might be glorified, the fruit He intends for you to bear, how Jesus’ character can be exhibited in the request, the joy He desires for you, and His will for the answer.

We still “see through a glass darkly” (I Corinthians 13:12 KJV). But keeping these truths in mind makes for prayers that are better aligned with God-and makes us more aware that someday we will see everything from God’s perspective – face to face.

We've all had it happen, haven't we?  We're trying to pray, perhaps alone or in a group, and soon our mind is wandering. We're thinking about the next meeting, our kids at home, a funny story, our struggle with our spouse or coworker, a song we heard on the radio and a thousand other things.

Of course, we feel guilty again for not focusing on the Lord and the things that break His heart as the saying goes. We determine for the next few minutes to stay with our prayer list and seconds later our mind is somewhere else . . . again.

We wonder if we really have what it takes to truly have a conversation in prayer with our Father. However, I'm more and more convinced every day that we need to embrace those distractions not curse them. Sure, if we're just letting every stray thought enter our mind and interrupt our time with God then we probably need some better boundaries for our mind and location when we pray.

But the average distraction of our mind is probably there for a reason.  I'm pretty convinced that many of those other thoughts come into my mind because they are important!  There is a reason why my mind went to that person, situation or conflict.

As a result I've learned to do something different when that kind of distraction overtakes my prayer moment.  I pray about it.

I now often pray something like this, "Lord, my relationship with Don popped into my mind just now.  And you know how strained it's been for the last several months.  I want to ask you to soften my heart and Don's so that we can become friends again, forgive each other and renew a healthy relationship."

I just let the Spirit take me to that place rather than run from it.  Of course, sometimes the Spirit can stop us and tell us that we don't need to dwell on that situation right then but that's up to God.

In fact, distractions like these often represent something going on in the deepest places of our soul which is the place where our God specializes in doing His greatest work.  

So don't miss these opportunities to let God wander with you into those tender recesses of your mind and heart.  It would be easy to ignore something important that God wants to help you walk through.  Remember a distraction just might be a wake up call.

I am confident that when most of us ask God for something we're very serious about it. We SO want that person to be healed, a friend's marriage to be restored or someone in our church to receive comfort. We passionately desire our children to be godly, our relationships to be whole and our unbelieving friend to know Christ.

However, there are times when in our praying we may be trying a bit too hard and we start to add some of our own extras that God really doesn't need and that won't get us extra results. Let me suggest a few cautions:

Don't talk louder. Some people even like to yell. I've heard pastors especially in their passion imply that talking to God with higher volume will get a greater response. I doubt it. If anything it just scares people and certainly isn't suggested in the Word. They may mean well or be overcome with concern but perhaps it should not be the norm. I don't want my kids yelling at me when they want something, do you?  Does God?

Don't pray longer.  Yes, we need to spend time in God's presence but I'm pretty sure that God looks at the intent and purity of our heart more than the length of our prayer.  He wants time with us, for sure, but isn't likely interested in long lengthy descriptions of the needs that He knows even before we ask HIm.

Don't use bigger words.  I've heard many pastors who literally change their vocabulary once they start to pray, focusing on five dollar words and lofty spiritual language. But I have a hunch that God views prayer as more of a conversation and won't change his response if we just step up our terms.

Don't demand from God. We love to claim, count on and cajole things from God when prayer is to be more about a conversation with the Father,  coming into agreement and fellowship with Him about what He knows is best. Does God answer specific requests?  Or course, He does, but He also gives us gifts as His children, not as union workers who require a pay raise because we were sure it was promised to us.

Don't bargain with God.   I travel overseas a good bit and know there are places where we can wheel and deal with vendors about souvenirs and gifts. It's OK, normal and expected there. But not in Heaven. God isn't in the bargaining business even though He loves us more than we can know. We're better to "make our requests known unto God," and then rest in the peace of God promised as well in Philippians 4.

Passionate about praying?  Good for you. Don't quit. Just make sure you're not trying too hard to make something happen. That's up to God.

It's interesting and encouraging that many of our churches are waking up to the fact that even Christ followers in our ranks are still sinning big time. For years studies by Barna and others have been telling us that church people aren't at least statistically that different morally from those not in the church.

But unfortunately the truth is being realized and we're having to admit the studies were right. Christians struggle with porn, kids who sext with each other, get divorced, have affairs and cheat on their taxes just to name a few things.  It's not that God isn't at work, lives aren't being changed or that there aren't some really miraculous things taking place but we're still a mess.

So naturally and thankfully many churches are being called to pray for their church, city and country, that God would do a great work and change people.  The problem is that too often we are only praying for the symptoms not the real problem.

We pray that our people would quit having affairs and getting divorced. We pray that our young people would reject the habits of their friends online and not send dirty pictures to one another. We pray for people to come to our churches and lay aside their distractions. And we should want those things and more.

But if that is all we pray for we've missed the boat.  We'll be like the surgeon who removed the cancerous spots on the patient's skin but didn't consider the tumor or disease elsewhere in the body. There is a deeper root.

Jeremiah 2:13 is probably familiar to most of us but it is a key passage for understanding the underlying issues.  My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

We must pray people to go back to God (Jesus) for their water, for what really gives them life and meaning and purpose.  We must help them see the broken cisterns in their life that culture and our selfishness have drawn us to for our worth, satisfaction and fulfillment.

We have started to worship our kids and their needs so we let them get away with too much, quit parenting and look the other way. We worship comfort and happiness so we spend much of our time earning more, getting more and storing up more, too exhausted to consider doing anything for God.

And when our spouse feels the same way we have no time for them and them for us. But someone out there will have time when we're most vulnerable and we need to dull our pain.

We must pray for Christians, starting with us, to re-visit our first love, Jesus. Ask God to help us put Him first and to lay aside our leaky buckets, to exchange again our idols for the glory and pleasure of God. We must not dress the wound of the people as though it were not serious. (Jeremiah 6:14)  We must pray for people to tell it like it is and not settle for superficial change. 

And if we do, then God will truly heal us, our churches, our communities and our land. Change will be real and lasting. Why would we want anything less?

I would guess that most of our churches have a formal or informal group of people who minister to others after or during the service(s). And we all know that these people are truly pastors in some sense of the word as they love on and care for people through the power of prayer.  Thank God for people who love prayer ministry.

However, some well-meaning folks need a little coaching particularly in what to avoid when they have those few minutes of time with people in need.  So let me share a couple of items we cover with our teams that you might want to mention in your training or orientation as well.

First, don't scare people. Many of the people who will approach us for prayer are nervous to begin with so don't add to their fears.  How?  Several ways: using big words they don't understand, having several people they don't know lay hands on them or surround them so they can't get out. We might not see the problem but our team members need to be especially sensitive to just who is coming for prayer and do everything they can to help the people feel safe.

Second, don't promise more than you, the church or God can give. For example, don't claim that everything will work out or that you know God will heal them right then. Sometimes things go wonderfully and yes, God still does miracles, but He is in charge of that, not us.  Also, don't suggest that they call the church for more help unless the church leaders have offered that and can really assist people in need.

Third, don't pray long. Some people feel they need to pray for every possible thing they can think of related to the presenting problem. Most people however want us instead to go before God with them and share the basic need. Length is also another way to add to their fear quotient.

Fourth, don't break confidences. What happens in the prayer time should stay in the prayer time unless there is some indication that they or someone else could be hurt in some way. However, normally these requests are just that - requests for prayer - not announcements. Broken confidences during prayer times are great ways to send people to another church.

Fifth, don't talk with other prayer leaders or people in the church who are nearby. Prayer team members need to be attentive to those coming for prayer and that is it.

So, help your volunteers and staff make your times of prayer extra special and safe for those who need your prayer.  Prayer does make a difference.  Let's just make sure it's a good difference.

Most of us are eagerly awaiting the results of tomorrow's national elections, especially for President. We have no doubt prayed for change, that truth would prevail and that God's hand would be on our country. Hopefully we have also voted or will cast our vote before the polls close.

But what if our candidate loses?  What if we don't see the results we had hoped for? Will we be any different?  I hope not. Yes, we may face circumstances we'd rather not encounter or we could see things improve dramatically. We may endure trials and tribulations that we've not seen for a long time or have abundant prosperity.

But if circumstances are what change how we truly feel, really live and look at life, our priorities are misguided. I want to suggest that no matter the outcome we can and must still live and pray in P-E-A-C-E.

The P stands for PURPOSE.  God put us all here for a reason and gave us a purpose or purposes to live out while on earth.  One election does not change that. One man in office does not have the power to thwart his plan.

The E stands for EXAMPLE.  We can and must still be like Christ. He told us we are to be His examples, to live like him, no matter what.

The A stands for ADORATION.  Worship Him no matter your circumstances.  Let everything you do be an act of praise to the Lord of the Universe.

The C stands for CARE.  Never quit caring in Jesus' name for those all around you. Ofter our compassion for the world is our open door to sharing the Gospel that compels us to love.

The second E stands for ENDURE.  We are told we will have to face hardship and challenges but how we respond and the way we trust God through those trials speaks volumes to the world around us.

So, we'll all be watching to see what happens. But peace can win out no matter the outcome.

Did you hear the response yesterday when the Democratic moderator at their convention asked for a vote as to whether they would reinstate God into the party platform? A significant part of the crowd voted with a rousing "YES!"  However, a group that sounded just as large boomed a resounding "NO."  As the cameras moved in on those voting negatively we saw people standing and waving their arms as they seemed to be defiantly saying, "We don't want God's name even mentioned in our policies."

Now to be honest, it should not be surprising when ungodly people act ungodly. What is more troubling is how many people were so overt about their disapproval of even recognizing God. How sad to think that in our country there are enough people who want to debate this issue. There have no doubt always been people in our culture who would disavow God's existence or importance. But today it appears to becoming more and more of the "in" thing. It's popular, progressive and cutting edge now.

That's one of many reasons why I hope we who love God and follow Christ will do more this election season than just utter a few "God bless the election" prayers. First of all, we need to vote, but we must also pray. Let me suggest ten things to have on your prayer list, things I hope we might consider starting to pray for soon, maybe even for a biblical forty days starting September 27th or so.

1. Pray for the election results to bring God glory.

2. Pray for the truth to be prominent and win out over falsehood.

3. Pray that whatever the results Christians will be energized to stand for Christ, remain compassionate and learn to trust God more deeply.

4. Pray for Christian leaders in government to stand strong and firm and to remain committed to leading like Jesus.

5. Pray that our public arena will continue to welcome the mention of God, freedom of religion and fair dialogue about the role of faith in our country.

6. Pray for a harvest of decisions for Christ and the election of more Christians and moral leaders to public office.

7. Pray for a reduction of our debt and a new commitment to wise spending and use of our resources.

8. Pray for the safety of our country from terrorism and an ongoing development of military protection and readiness.

9. Pray for the churches of America to remain focused on their mission to go into their communities and all the world with the Gospel and its message of compassion.

10. Pray for heart change towards God in the current administration and leadership of our country.

Add your own items but let's commit to pray together this year. It will probably matter more than we even think.

I've traveled to Russia fourteen times and will add a fifteenth in October. It's been a privilege to teach, train and inspire pastors and other leaders there over the years. They've also taught me much and my last trip almost a year ago was no exception.

After the worship conference we helped lead finished, I and some of my team went out to a town called Istra where I've known the people and staff in a church there for over fifteen years. We helped them finance a building and have been able to share ministry ideas every time we're together.

However, this Sunday morning I got to hear one of their leaders preach in the pastor's absence and he said a line I've never forgotten. "Too many Christians are more in love with the kingdom than the King!" Wow. That phrase hit me big time both as I thought about its implications for me and then as I considered other humbling comparisons.

I realized that yes I'm often more drawn in by my work, the logistics of ministry and even the habits of spiritual growth  than the One who I serve and am supposed to love. So that day I began to think of other tensions that have challenged me to look differently at my life and what I sometimes erroneously call spirituality and commitment. Maybe they will stir something in you as well and cause you to think of other tensions that will resonate with you.

I know that I also pray differently these days as I more often think in fresh ways about the greatness of our God and Savior who meets with me each time. I ponder the presence of the One who is described in small but significant way below. Maybe your prayers will change, too.

Am I more in love with . . .

Being saved or the Savior?  I Timothy 4:10

Creation or the Creator?  Colossians 16

Prayer or the presence of the Father?  Jude 24

Worship or the One who deserves our praise? Matthew 2:2

Serving or the Suffering Servant?  Philippians 2:7

My rules or the Ruler of all?  I Timothy 6:15

My Bible study or the Word who was with God and was God? John 1:1

My way or The Way?  John 14:6

Holiness or the Holy One?  I John 2:20

Life or He who gives us life?  John 15:21

My image or the image of the invisible God?  Colossians 1:15

My stardom or the Bright and Morning Star?  Revelation 22:16

My strength or the Rock of our Salvation? I Corinthians 10:4

What I've built or the Chief Cornerstone?  I Peter 2:6

My insights or the Only Wise God?  Romans 16:27

My leadership or the Captain of our Salvation? Hebrews 2:10

My children or the Son of God?  I John 5:11

Most of us have now heard (perhaps too many times) the old joke about the guy on the roof of his house as the flood waters rise. A motor boat comes to save him but he refuses stating that he has prayed and knows that God will rescue him. Then a helicopter comes and hovers overhead and he responds the same way.

Soon of course he dies and meets the Lord in Heaven. He is clearly perturbed and questions God about why He didn't save him after his passionate prayers. And God says, "What do you mean? I sent you a boat and a helicopter."

Well, a similar type of story is actually found in the book of Nehemiah that reminds us that we too must do more than just pray. Nehemiah has been called to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. And unfortunately not everyone in leadership is happy with him. In chapter 4, verse 7 we read, "But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heart that the repairs  to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed they were very angry."

In fact this wasn't the first conflict Nehemiah encountered. Chapter two says they had been mocked and ridiculed.

But then verse eight adds that his detractors were actually going to come and fight against Jerusalem. But notice what verse nine says . . . . "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat."

We prayed to our God AND posted a guard. What a helpful model for the praying Christian today. Yes, pray like crazy as my boss likes to say but do everything you can do to be wise. This verse speaks volumes for why we should find the best doctors when we're sick, have our cars checked out before a long trip and count the cost before we start a building project. "Posting a guard" isn't a lack of faith, it's just smart and what many have modeled throughout Scripture. God put these examples in the Word for a reason.

Faith still challenges us to believe God for a miracle, to do beyond what we could ask and think, to be confident that God can provide and protect even in the middle of the worst. Sometimes there is nothing else we can do and God has to accomplish it totally without our involvement.

But maybe today you're wondering what to do next after you've prayed passionately about a need in your life or an initiative you believe God is leading you to pursue.

You might try posting a guard, doing the next wise thing. And when the boat and the helicopter show up, you'll recognize from whence they came!

I would guess that most of us have had some pretty negative responses from people when they find out we are a Christian or address spiritual things in any way. Comments like, "Don't try shove your religion down my throat," or "You're just one of those intolerant radicals," can be commonplace. People just walking away or changing the subject can be the norm much of the time.

However, there is one question I've rarely, if ever, had someone say "No" to or respond to in some other negative way. The question is simply, "Could I pray for you?"  In coffee shops, on airplanes, talking to a neighbor or meeting someone in a hospital have all been fertile ground for opportunities to pray for people. And I'm convinced that those brief times of prayer and care have been used by God to till the soil for people to one day embrace Christ.

In fact I wonder if we Christians aren't often insensitive to what's going on in someone else's world when we try to say too much about Jesus before we've tried to first be like Jesus. Taking a moment to just pray often touches the deep recesses of someone's soul in a way they will remember positively and perhaps never forget.

I was in a Starbuck's not too long ago after a hospital visit having a little time to kill before my next appointment. I ordered my drink relishing a little alone time and sat down in a vacant corner of the coffee shop. Before long a young man sat down nearby holding a big Frappuccino. While wanting to just kick back and leave him alone God seemed to be prompting me to say something so I did. With a frown on his face he told me that he really didn't know what this drink was but a friend had told him to get it sometime.

I wondered in my mind why he wouldn't know about something so common but then he began to tell me that he had just gotten out of prison and was now looking for a job. Now I understood the lack of knowledge about coffee drinks. And before we were done I simply asked if I could pray for him and that he found something quickly. He was more than happy for my prayers.

I'm confident others would be too if we could start there. It's from that kind of care and compassion that longer relationships can be cultivated and conversations about spiritual things can continue and deepen. With people like the young man at Starbuck's we sometimes have to just trust God to bring the next person along who can grow their relationship in the fertile soil of our introduction to Christ through prayer.

So, who in your world today or tomorrow or the next day might need you to pray for them?  Look for chances to do so. Pray for those opportunities. My hunch is that you will not get turned down.

I don't remember if anyone in particular invented it, but I do recall when something labeled Conversational Prayer became popular. It was the idea that in group prayer people would engage God in an ongoing conversation together about one topic for a time and then move to another after that topic was "covered." It was a welcome change from the boredom and distraction often experienced waiting for others to stop praying so you could join in.  It's something that many groups still do and I and many others happen to like the idea to this day.

Conversational prayer can keep prayer times from just becoming the reciting of requests to God with little extended thought or involvement by others when they are not praying. It's also a very special time when the conversation focuses only on praise for a time.

However, the older I get the more I enjoy and am enriched by my own individual conversations with God, ones that go on throughout the day rather than merely during one devotional moment or session. It's when I find Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing to really come alive.

And there are several benefits from those talks, inspirations to my growth as a person and one who prays.  First, I find that when I talk with God more informally that I am more likely to bring Him the gritty, everyday things that I'm wrestling with at the moment. I talk more readily about my pride, temptations that I may be experiencing or the disappointments that just occurred in my work or home life.

I also find myself praising Him for the small things that I often forget to thank him for other times. I praise Him more for the provision that He's given all around me, for the car I'm driving and the ministry and work that I am headed to that I love and which pays our bills. I tend to forget those things when I only pray at home or in church.

I pray more for individuals whose homes I drive by or who I see on the street. I am reminded to pray for businesses nearby and for other churches in our city.

And for some reason, I tend to listen to God more or at least I seem to hear Him better. Maybe it's the prompting of the needs around me that God speaks into, I don't know.

Nonetheless, I encourage you to consider more of your own all-day-long conversations with God as you play and work. You can't go wrong speaking with your Father on a regular basis!

Yesterday afternoon I saw a Facebook post about a good friend in Illinois who had apparently been hospitalized for heatstroke. I remember praying briefly for him and hoping to learn soon that he was OK.

However, later that evening my wife and I were on our way to visit a friend at his grandpa's visitation when my phone rang. I saw that it was Don's wife, Laura, so I expected that she wanted to update me on his condition and hopefully tell me he was improving.

Instead, she told me he had passed away. Don? A guy in his early fifties?  Gone? In the middle of my shock, I couldn't help but ask again, "Why?"  Why allow this servant, father, husband and friend to be taken when there are so many evil, lazy jerks out there that our world could do without?

My first reaction of course was, "God, you didn't come through here. People were praying, they asked you for healing, for protection and instead you missed this one."

Of course that's silly. God wasn't asleep. He saw everything that happened from the stroke he apparently suffered to the final arrest of his heart.

But events like this got me thinking again, even this morning through some tears, that we often think that for God to come through He must make us happy, He must keep us comfortable, and change things in our world so that we avoid pain.

Sure, some of us would say otherwise, but we can pray that way. We love to claim things for God that we have no right claiming and if we're honest we claim them more for our comfort and happiness than God's perfect will, plan and glory.  Sometimes we even demand that God come through because we don't want to deal with our friend or relative's agony.

But the truth of the matter is that God owes us nothing. Everything we have, including life, is because of His grace and mercy. And because He loves us He sometimes does let us go through the worst because there is something on the other side that is better though we will probably never understand it at the time or until Heaven.

God has always come through to use that term. He did in the beginning, He did for Israel and He did at the cross. And He will today, tomorrow and the next day, no matter what happens that we can't understand.

So, yes, let's keep praying for miracles. Sometimes God still blesses us beyond measure so that He will be glorified, we will bear fruit and our joy will be full. But be sure to remember that He's the one who makes those calls, not us. And there will be joy in the morning.

As most of us know Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity. Unfortunately, not everyone liked the idea, particularly several key leaders. In chapter 4, verse 1, we read, When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews . . .

Tobiah also joined the verbal scourging and added, What are they building - if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!

However, Nehemiah being a wise and godly leader immediately turned to the Lord and prayed in verse 4, Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 

But then rather than praying more he and his team went to work. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. (v. 6)

Unfortunately, Sanballat, Tobiah and a host more were not finished and became angry that the work continued. Verse 8 tells us, They plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.

I find Nehemiah's next actions even more insightful when we think about how we're to pray in the middle of trials. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

They prayed AND posted a guard. They sought God's help AND they used everyday wisdom. They were spiritual AND they were smart.

God expects us to do the same today. Yes, pray for healing AND find the best medical help you can find. Yes, pray for financial provision AND spend what you have well. Yes, pray for your children to become godly AND model a Christlike life in front of them. Pray for the needy AND go share what you have with them. The possible implications are myriad.

Prayer and action are clearly not mutually exclusive!

But so often we prayer leaders, pastors and teachers send messages to others that one or the other, prayer or action, is really enough. We call for great movements of prayer (and we should) but we often leave out a challenge to then act wisely and assertively. Others pull together hundreds or even thousands to serve others and take little time to pray for wisdom, direction and guidance.

And many of us know the hurt and misunderstanding many have faced because a Christian leader did not understand the Bible's clear perspective that prayer is to be coupled with wisdom and everyday deeds.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray He told them to pray that God would enable and empower them to bring the kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven. He too wanted them to make the kingdom real and vibrant in very tangible ways.

So, are you facing a challenge, a rebuttal, a push back on something you believe God wants you or your church to do?  Yes, pray like crazy, call others to join you, ask in Jesus' name that the Father will be glorified, fast if you feel led to, but for Heaven's sake, post a guard!

Recently we Christians celebrated Easter weekend, the holiday that makes or breaks our faith. Friday, the Savior died. Sunday He rose. Without Christ's death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection Paul says we who claim to be Christ followers are simply fools.

But I find it interesting that while most congregations and even groups of churches hold both Good Friday and Easter services, I don't know of one place that has held an Easter Saturday service. No one wants to come together to give attention to a day when seemingly nothing takes place.

And yet I would suggest that we live a lot of life in the Saturday between the tragedy of Friday and the victory of Sunday. Yes, the actual resurrection has taken place but often ours has not.

Saturday is the day after the bad thing occurred but the day before something good. It's the day after a prayer gets prayed but before it gets answered. It's the day after our soul gets crushed but before it gets lifted up. As Pastor John Ortberg described it in a recent message, it's the in-between day.

It's the day when Heaven appeared silent, the twenty-four hours when God asked the world to wait for an answer. Jesus appeared to be a failure uttering not the 23rd Psalm before His death but rather, Why have you forsaken me?  We now know that He overcame the grave, but often we're still in waiting.

In fact, some of you reading this blog are living your own Saturday right now - a struggling marriage, a wayward child, the loss of a job in a weak economy, an illness that won't go away. Certainly people in your church have their difficult Saturdays as well. And sadly, some of our prayers, though well-intended, do not take into account the Saturday factor, that perhaps God is asking us to wait, to be patient, to listen and to trust Him like never before.

Instead some of us like to claim an answer right now. We pray passionately, loudly and often for God to "take care of this immediately." We tell God that it's time for Saturday to be over and imply, "let's get on with it." And as a result we disappoint or send the message to those who are hurting that they just didn't have enough faith.

Paul spoke of this in II Timothy 2:18 explaining that some people teach that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

But God had a purpose for Saturday of resurrection weekend. Scripture tells us that Jesus went into Hell and to minister to the spirits there. (I Peter 3:18)  And sometimes today Jesus stays for a time with us in the hell of our experiences. loving and strengthening us while He teaches us to rely on Him. These are at least some of the moments God is referring to when he says, Wait on the Lord.

So when we pray, we sometimes need to acknowledge that possibly we or the person we are praying for is living out a Saturday and God is not ready or willing to instantly turn it into Sunday. There is often more at work in us that God wants to do beyond just fixing our problem or concern.

Yes, pray expectantly. Ask for a Sunday resurrection to take place, but leave the door open for waiting, even until Heaven if need be. But also pray for patience, endurance and perseverance. Pray that eyes will be open to see the greater good God is doing through a particularly challenging time of life.

Finally, pray compassionately. Don't imply that the lack of an immediate answer is the result of minimal faith. Let your prayer be part of a coat of love that you wrap around another person reminding them that the Father has not left them alone, that Jesus will continue to walk with them through the hell of their life and that yes, someday, Sunday will be here.

I was privileged to have dinner here in Austin a few weeks ago with prayer leader and teacher Dan Henderson and another friend. I told him that there is a quote I've used many times which I had thought he had said and he confirmed it again for me. "If you want to have a crowd, don't call a prayer meeting."

And while there are exceptions, settings for group prayer don't typically require overflow seating. Yes, many Christians haven't yet embraced the power and impact of praying or don't feel comfortable praying with others so they avoid corporate prayer settings. We ought to continue to teach on prayer's importance and how to meaningfully pray with others to help change their thinking and posture on prayer.

However, others don't come for a variety of other reasons that are just part of life. Prayer times aren't always practical for many people, especially those with young children. Meetings are regularly in the evenings or early morning and childcare isn't usually provided.

Often we ask everyone to come to one location, the church, and yet many live thirty minutes to an hour away. Some are serving God in meaningful ways that require significant time so adding one more Christian activity simply isn't practical. It's unfair to blame them or call them unspiritual because they didn't make our prayer time.

And many people pray passionately and extensively at home, in their small group, with family members or other friends. They would argue that their prayer life is growing and thriving.  They just can't add one more church activity to their full schedule.

So let me suggest an idea that can at least enhance a church's prayer ministry and impact while understanding the limitations and uniquenesses of today's culture. We tried this on the National Day of Prayer this year and have seen a couple of other Austin churches use it for special prayer emphases.

First we asked people to give us their texting number or best email if they were willing to join others in prayer for the church, city and country the first Thursday in May. Then that day we put out two postings every hour that they would get via email or text to pray for. We asked them to pray right then for that request if possible. The postings also included video and musical options for meditation and praise. We added the same postings to our church Facebook and Twitter pages as well.

Many people told us how much they appreciated being included in the prayer day even though they couldn't come to our campus (we had a 12-1 group time at the church as well). And while our data is limited as to the total response we are confident that hundreds were involved in some way this year compared to only dozens when we had a longer prayer day exclusively at our church.

What if more groups around the world used a similar system to encourage prayer with them about a particular issue, conference or initiative?  Who knows the potential impact!

So perhaps we need to accept that gathering together these days to pray may take on new looks and methodology so that when we ask people to pray we more often than not actually get a crowd. I'm pretty convinced God would like that.

OK, so some of you have already branded me as a heretic. "How can this guy not care about revival?"  Others are at least curious and will read on. Maybe one or two (my best friend and wife perhaps) can't wait to hear more.

Trust me, at least here at the start, when I say that I would love to see revival in my city (Austin), country and the world. I've read about the great revivals in our past (of which there have been few) and heard many messages and exhortations to pray for the next one. I certainly don't criticize others of you who long for a revival of some sort in your lifetime.

But let me tell you why I'm not currently spending a lot of time praying for one.

First, I'm not sure what I'm praying for if I do.  Am I asking for large crowds to pack stadiums, for millions to suddenly march to their statehouses and kneel on the steps, for churches to suddenly be filled with worshipers? What would a revival in the classic sense look like?  And if revival isn't going to occur like it has in the past then what do I ask God to do today?  I would suggest most of us don't have a clue.

If some sort of spiritual awakening is going to happen then perhaps only God knows what it will look like and He wants us to simply till the soil well in our churches and communities so that fruit will easily grow.

Second, there are a lot of other things that need the passionate prayers of God's people right here, right now. In America we need our government leaders and politicians to get a grip on reality and start leading our country with wisdom, discretion and integrity. Marriages in our churches are tanking every day. Families are struggling and priorities are way out of line when it comes to the things of God and what really matters for eternity. 

It seems to me that if we pray for God to work in lives and  homes from the inside out that the revival we seek will more likely occur in some way than if we just pray for the revival itself.

Third, I don't see much Scriptural evidence or encouragement to pray for or seek revival. We are admonished to be holy, to go into the world and make disciples and to love God and people radically.  I feel more compelled to pray for those things to be true in me and in other believers and see what God does as a result.

Finally, I think we are often praying for something that God can do much more subtly and slowly. I remember a man in my former church who was put into a coma to basically save his life. I don't remember all the details but I do know that he miraculously lived but had to be revived from his coma slowly.  Revival isn't necessarily going to be quick or stupendous. We may never see the kind of revival, at least on the surface, that we've seen in the past.

However, God can still do something amazing in our churches, cities and country. Perhaps he'll do it one person or church at a time. Maybe we won't see it while it's happening but we'll look back five years from now and realize that Christians have been renewed and revitalized by the power of the Holy Spirit. I've written elsewhere that God is doing something special in my city of Austin, Texas. It's happening slowly but it's happening. Somehow I'd rather keep praying for that.

When you think of Facebook, Twitter, My Space and other social media do you get excited or panic?  Do you want to know more or do you wish they would just disappear?

Whatever your response those communication vehicles are likely here to stay. Sure, they will probably evolve, change names, join forces or spawn new concepts we haven't thought about as yet, but people will continue to use them.

So what do they have to do with prayer?

Well I've found a couple of prayer ministry opportunities through Facebook and Twitter that have actually enhanced and inspired my prayer time. First of all, I regularly pray for people that I have on my pages. Some of them of course specifically ask for prayer about something in their world. However, others I just pray for as I see or hear about the events going on in their world. They tell me about their child going to college, their trip to Florida, a new ministry opportunity or a family celebration. 

When I see their name or situation I pray for them right there and then.  Social media can become a wonderful prayer list and I encourage you to give it a try.

However, my involvement has gone further and yours might as well. I have a website called Keep Climbing. It's purpose is to inspire those climbing their own personal mountains with lessons learned in the climbing world. To help get people to go to  that site I have both Facebook and Twitter pages. As a result I now hear even more about people facing huge climbs such as cancer, job loss, depression, marital problems and grief. As they share their needs with me I pray for them and let them know I'm praying.

My willingness to pray for them has allowed me entrance into the world of hundreds of people who I don't even know but who are encouraged because I pray. If you are involved in social media, would you consider joining the online prayer team for those people?  And if you're still wondering about all that "tech stuff" you might consider putting your foot into the water if for no other reason that to pray better!