“Tell me what’s going on in your life.”

“So I’ll know how to pray for you.”

Well, on your knees I suppose.

Fold your hands.

Maybe bow your head a little.

“No. I mean so I’ll know what to pray about.”

What to pray is entirely different than how to pray.

Asking what to pray is dangerous.

Because I might actually tell you.

I want my hardship to end.

I want suffering to cease.

I want injustice righted.

I want the innocent spared pain.

I want the guilty punished.

I want answers to unanswerable questions.

I want to conquer my jealousy.

I want permanent joy.

But we both know…praying for these things won’t bring them about.

Most of these are things that require me to put in some effort and make some sacrifices. Some of them are things that don’t line up with God’s will.

So just pray that God’s will be done on earth.

And that I have daily bread

and forgiveness

and deliverance from my evils.

As for ‘how’ you pray this…

Any old way is fine.

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14