Articles
Focused Prayer
Miriam and Aaron once spoke against their brother Moses. Their complaint was ostensibly that he had married a Cushite woman, but jealousy of his leadership position was the real issue. God struck Miriam with leprosy as punishment. Aaron pled with Moses on her behalf, and Moses prayed for her. “Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘O God, heal her, I pray’” (Numbers 12:13). If Moses’ prayer included anything else, the text does not record it.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream. He wanted to know its meaning. His wise men responded that if he would tell them the dream they would interpret it. The king refused: whether he could not remember it or simply would not reveal it is uncertain. When the wise men began stalling, Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to kill them all. That would have included Daniel and his Hebrew friends. Daniel asked for time, then turned to his friends and urged them to pray that God would reveal this mystery (Daniel 2:17-18). Their lives were on the line! Doubtless their prayers were urgent and squarely focused on the matter at hand.
Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer. He learned from his brother that despite a remnant returning to Jerusalem decades ago, the city was still in shambles. Nehemiah wanted to lead an effort to rebuild it. He was looking for just the right opportunity to ask leave of the King. One day Artaxerxes noticed that Nehemiah looked sad and asked what was wrong. Nehemiah explained that the problem was Jerusalem’s condition. “Then the king said to me, ‘What would you request?’” (Nehemiah 2:4a). Now was the time! This was the critical moment! “So I prayed to the God of heaven” (v. 4b). Surely this was a brief, targeted, intense prayer!
These three examples—and there are numerous others—teach the valuable lesson that effective prayer is often brief: brief, and directly to the point. When the occasion calls for a specific thanksgiving or request, make it. You need not say anything else.
Should not a prayer at the beginning of Bible study be focused on that study? Should not a dismissal prayer be just that: asking the Lord’s blessing on us as we leave, rather than largely a repetition of what has already been prayed? The prayers at the Lord’s table are to give thanks for the bread and the fruit of the vine; they are most effective when we say that but do not venture off into other areas. Remember this principle when praying with others at hospitals, at nursing homes, in Bible studies, in problem-solving conversations, in various kinds of meetings, even in your home. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
