JEFF TURNER

Prayer is an important part of faith, but it can be challenging to know how to pray effectively. Even though the Bible teaches a lot about prayer, the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:26 that “we do not know how to pray as we should.” This is because we often don’t know what’s best in a given situation.

When faced with difficult circumstances, like praying for someone with cancer, it’s hard to know exactly what to ask for. Should we pray for healing or for God’s will to be done, even if that means the person passes away? We may not understand how God plans to use illness or hardship for a greater purpose, such as bringing people to faith.

The key is to pray sincerely while trusting God with the outcome. We can express our desires to God, but ultimately we need to defer to His wisdom and plan. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

So while we may not always know the right words to say, we can pray passionately and honestly, leaving the final results in God’s capable hands. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, expressing the deep longings of our hearts that we can’t put into words ourselves.