I Used To Pray For the Now

I used to pray for times like this—right now, this very day. A day of blue skies and sunshine in my life. A moment free from strife, worry, or impending trouble. The horizon looks clear, and the outlook feels blissful.

I used to pray for more days like this. I wanted only good things: a loving husband, well-behaved kids, meaningful yet stress-free work, and a prosperous future for us all. My prayers were filled with requests for things to be easy—for everything to turn out the way I thought it should.

But I don’t pray that way anymore.

A Shift in My Prayers

It’s not that I seek hardship or suffering. I still long for peace and joy in my life. But something has shifted in my heart, and that shift has completely transformed my prayer life.

I no longer pray for the easy things—I pray for the BIG stuff!!!

What Is the BIG Stuff?

What do I mean by the BIG stuff? And how did I come to revamp my prayers to center on those things?

It all started when I read an old book about the prayers of the Apostle Paul. At first, it sounded dry and uninteresting. But as I studied Paul’s prayers, I realized something profound: his focus was never on earthly comfort. Was that a key to his powerful ministry, his very successful Christian life?

Where is My Life, Really?

If you and I are in Christ, our lives are no longer bound to this world. Colossians 3 reminds us:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1, NIV)

We are called to set our minds on eternal things—not just the temporary concerns of this life. That doesn’t mean we don’t ask God for daily provision (after all, Jesus did teach us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”). But that request is just one small part of a much bigger prayer. And we’ll talk more about that prayer of Jesus before we wrap up this post.🙂

Paul’s Example: Praying for the Eternal

Paul’s prayers weren’t centered on personal ease or worldly success. Almost nothing of the here and now comes up in Paul’s requests. No prayers for safety or comfort, prosperity or health. Just an open door for the Gospel and the spiritual well being of those he had brought to salvation in Christ. Instead, he prayed for spiritual strength, wisdom, endurance, and a deeper knowledge of God. Arthur Pink’s book, Gleanings from Paul, pointed out something I had never considered before:

“In the apostolic prayers, there is no supplicating God for the supply of temporal needs and (with a single exception) no asking Him to interpose on their behalf in a providential way. Instead, the things asked for are wholly of a spiritual and gracious nature…”

Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1:17-19 ask that:

• God would give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
• Our eyes would be enlightened to know the hope of His calling.
• We would understand the riches of His inheritance and the greatness of His power.

Now that is the BIG stuff.

How My Prayers Changed

I started praying differently—instead of comfort and ease, I asked for:

• Growth that stretches me spiritually.
• Strength to endure hardships with faith and good cheer (not despair).
• Wisdom to know God more deeply.
• Boldness to share my faith.

This shift wasn’t just personal. When I pray with my sister, who is battling terminal cancer, our prayers are not just for healing (though we ask for that too). More importantly, we pray that she remains strong in faith, constant in her witness, and a light to those around her—no matter what.

Your New Prayer List

Have you ever felt unsure of what to pray? If so, I encourage you to start with Paul’s prayers as your example. Let his prayers give you a template for your own prayer list.

Here are a few passages to guide your prayers:
📖 Ephesians 1:15-20
📖 Ephesians 3:14-21
📖 Philippians 1:8-11
📖 Colossians 1:9-12

These prayers focus on spiritual wisdom, strength, knowledge, endurance, and joy —the things that truly sustain us in this life. I know this sounds like a radically different Prayer List than most others you have ever had. But, I think many of us need to shake up our Christian life and focus much more acutely on our spiritual growth and strength and less on our creature comforts.🙃

A Challenge For You

I hear people say they want to pray but don’t really know how. My advice? Start with the BIG stuff. The things that will draw you closer to God and strengthen your faith. Pray that you’ll walk worthy of your calling. What does it look like to walk worthy as a Christian wife or mom?

Ask that you’ll be able to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as you go through your day at home or at work. Seek to know your spiritual gifts and how to use them to make a difference in the lives of those God brings across your path. Tell God that you want your life to count for eternity and you want to bring glory to Him.🙌

Advice From Jesus on Prayer

Earlier I mentioned the part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus taught the people how to pray. We call it The Lord’s Prayer. Let’s bring that passage into our discussion of prayer. Not just the part that is the prayer, but what Jesus was teaching about prayer.

To help you reflect, I’d love for you to read Matthew 6:25-34 (The Sermon on the Mount) and consider these two questions:

1. What does Jesus say we don’t need to pray for or worry about? Why? (v.32)
2. What does Jesus say we should seek from God in prayer?

Now think about your own prayers. What percent of them are centered on the things of this life? How often do you ‘direct’ God by praying He work in a specific way for a certain outcome? One you’ve decided on.🙃 That’s directing God, it’s bossing Him around and dictating how He should work. That’s never gonna give the best outcome. We don’t know more than God. It’s also really arrogant when we realize what we’ve been doing.🥴

Let’s commit to praying like Paul—seeking first the eternal, trusting that God will take care of the rest.
And if this resonated with you then please share this post with a Christian friend who might need this reminder in their own life.🫶💫

**Let’s Talk!**👇
Drop a comment below: What’s one BIG thing you want to start praying for today? Let’s lift each other up in prayer! 💬

If you’re a bit discouraged about your own prayer life I have another post that I hope will give you some comfort. I want you to know that your Father just wants to hear from you, even if your prayers don’t seem very fluent or ‘grown-up’ to your own ears.🙃

When I Pray Like A Toddler God Still Hears