Page 25 – Guideposts Articles

7 More One-Word Prayers

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

I’m a writer and editor. I like to talk. I like words. But in prayer, less is often more. Sometimes the easiest way to clear my head is to concentrate on just one word. Here are a few I use:

1) God
I like saying it under my breath, sometimes humming it. It was the anonymous writer of The Cloud of Unknowing who suggested that a one-syllable word can often be the best word for prayer. What could be more all-encompassing than “God?”

2) Thanks
I don’t say it enough or express it enough. There have been times when I have been so out-of-sorts with myself that I had to write down long lists of what I was grateful for. Easy enough to do in prayer. In bed, at night, I’ll go through a mental list and put “Thanks” at the end.

3) Help
This one is a no-brainer. Sometimes we don’t even know what we need. We just need help. A pat on the back, wind in our sails, a little bit more in the bank account. Whatever it is. “Help.”

4) Sin
This too came from The Cloud of Unknowing. Just a one-syllable word. It’s not about asking for sin, just acknowledging it and letting it go. To become renewed with God’s help.

5) Yes
The word puts a smile on my face. I never know how exactly I can be used by God but I always want to be ready and available. I don’t doubt there are thousands of ways God is calling me. So I say, “Yes.”

6) Jesus
I want to see the world with Jesus’s eyes, I want to feel the Lord’s compassion, I want to make sure my understanding is bigger than my fears. I want to love wholeheartedly. “Jesus,” I pray.

7) Amen
Let it be true. Let it happen. Let it be as God would will it to be. “Amen.”

7 Easy Ways to Pray Yourself to Sleep

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Health experts (such as the National Sleep Foundation—that’s a real thing, honest!) say that consistent bedtime rituals can make a big difference in promoting a good night’s sleep. For that reason (among many), an evening prayer plan can be a huge blessing.

Not only is it possible and surprisingly easy to incorporate prayer into your existing pre-sleep routine; it could lead to better sleep patterns—as well as a closer walk with God. (I have written here about the blessings of “Compline,” a nightly habit of prayer.) So here is a suggested evening prayer plan, which of course can be altered according to your routine:

New Every Morning Journal In Article Ad A

1) Pray as you enter the bedroom.
“May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.”

2) Pray as you empty your pockets and prepare to undress.
“Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

3) Pray as you undress for the night.
“Almighty God, my heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, in what I have done, and in what I have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive all my offenses and grant that I may walk before you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.”

4) Pray as you wash your face and brush your teeth.
“Praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and is to come, at the end of the ages. Amen.”

5) Sing in the shower.
Sing a hymn or worship song, such as “Abide With Me,” “Sun of My Soul,” or “Your Love Never Fails.”

6) Pray as you dry off or get dressed for the night.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer, followed by any petitions for yourself or intercessions for others.

7) Pray as you climb into bed and turn off the light.
“Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Keep me as the apple of your eye and hide me under the shadow of your wings.”

You may also want to add a few more components of the traditional “Compline” service, which are all helpful in preparing your mind, heart and spirit for sleep. These are just suggestions, after all—but they are offered with the promise that eventually you may never again lay your head on your pillow without a sense of God’s peace and presence.

Having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Download Abide for Christian sleep meditations that use calming techniques and Scripture verses framed in calming stories to lull you into a peaceful slumber.

6 Ways Your Phone Can Help You Pray

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Technology can be both boon and bane to prayer. Notifications and text alerts distract us, but prayer apps help us focus. (I use two on a daily basis: a morning prayer podcast—I listen to it in Podbean—and my own “31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids ” offered as an iPhone and iPad app. There’s also Guideposts‘ excellent OurPrayer App.)

But there are other ways to turn your smartphone into a prayer aid without downloading anything. Here are just six:

1) Enable Do Not Disturb
You seldom turn off your phone, right? That’s okay. You don’t have to shut it down entirely. But you can use the “do not disturb” function in your settings (which you can program for set periods) and take charge of your phone instead of allowing it to randomly interrupt. The world will survive those few minutes you’re out of touch. Go ahead. Enable “do not disturb” (or turn your phone off completely) as you turn your heart and mind toward God.

2) Set a Reminder
The calendar or reminders function on your smartphone can help you remember to pray at set times daily—or throughout the day. It’s so easy to automate, say, morning, noon and evening prayer times. You can program a reminder to tell you to pray when you leave or arrive at a particular location. When you promise to pray for something or someone, put it in your calendar and activate an alert to help you keep your promise.

3) Text a Prayer
Many people find it easier to text than to call—or even leave a voicemail. So why not exchange prayer texts with a prayer partner? People text prayer requests (or post them on social media) all the time. Why not text the actual prayers instead? It takes no more time to text, “Lord, help Sue with her exam today; help her to remember everything she’s studied,” than it does to text, “I’ll be praying for you today, asking God to help you remember everything you’ve studied.” Do it in the moment, and your phone becomes a prayer machine.

4) Pray with Others via Video
There are a number of ways to use video calling on today’s smartphones; there are even apps that allow you to record a video for others to view later when it’s convenient. So why not schedule a prayer meeting with a friend or two and pray together via video call?

5) Set a Timer
Do you find it hard to focus during prayer because you’re checking the time? Your smartphone can free you from clock watching. Simply set a timer when you start praying and let the “Hallelujah Chorus” ringtone (or something like it) announce when you’re finished.

6) Create a Playlist
Music fosters prayer and meditation for some people. Why not compile a playlist of songs that turns your heart heavenward? Whether you sing and worship as it plays or use it as background music to your prayers, the right playlist can have you hungering and thirsting for time alone with God. You can even use your playlist as a timer; simply include a set number of songs that will last as long as your prayer session. You can even create playlists of different lengths (5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) to use when conditions dictate shorter or longer prayer times.

These ideas barely scratch the surface of what your phone can do, but just asking the question can suggest more and better ideas: How can you turn your smartphone into an aid—rather than a hindrance—to prayer?

6 Ways to Pray When You Feel Spiritually Stuck

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Ashley Lateef

Our conversation with God—like any other dialogue we have with friends and family—can grow stale at times, especially if we don’t devote consistent time and attention to prayer.

But with a little creativity, effort and some of the following strategies, we can skip those all too common dry periods and jumpstart our prayer life once again.

1. Meditate on Scripture

A good first step is to return to the Word of God, because there you will find direction and comfort for any number of life’s dilemmas. Joining a Bible study provides a structured, guided way of delving deeper into scripture. However, sometimes I like to simply open up my Bible and meditate on random passages.

Returning to my favorite Bible verses as prayer prompts helps me to connect with God: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3: 5). Check out some more ways to meditate and memorize scriptures.

2. Write a letter to God

When I feel stymied in my faith or struggling with a specific situation, I will pen an honest letter to God, cataloging my fears and frustrations and asking for His help. I write from my younger self, describing my worries and hurts to Him much like I would to a loving mother or father. After I’ve composed the note, I close my eyes and try to hear a response. Although a clear answer isn’t always given, I almost always feel a sense of peace. I find letter writing to be an especially powerful expression that fosters a deeper intimacy to God.

3. Light a candle

Fire symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which is probably why staring into a flame stirs my heart. This natural element has been around for 449 million years, reminding me of God’s presence since the beginning of time and that everything changes except for Him. The flame sends a message of consolation—I am here—as well as prompts me to place all trust in God. It also calms me down and quiets the static noise around me so that I can hear God’s whispers to me.

4. Recite your favorite prayers

You need not say anything original to communicate with God. I often return to my seven favorite prayers when I want to connect with Jesus but have nothing to say: The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, The Bookmark by Teresa of Avila, The Third Step Prayer, The Memorare, Prayer by Thomas Merton, The Prayer of St. Francis, Prayer by John Henry Newman, and The Our Father. Although they are vastly different from each other, they all talk about a desire to follow God’s will while summoning his guidance.

5. Repeat a mantra

Christians aren’t alone in using mantras to pray. For more than 3,000 years other faith traditions—first Hindus, then Buddhists—have used focused repetitions of a soothing word or phrase. Scripture verses make for appropriate mantras. For example, repeating “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) over and over again allows the wisdom of that passage to penetrate more deeply into your heart and soul. Or you might take a phrase from a prayer, such as “Let nothing disturb you” or “God alone suffices,” from Teresa of Avila’s Bookmark Prayer.

6. Pray with someone

Prayer doesn’t have to be solitary, of course. A good way to overcome complacency and tap the power of prayer is by talking to God with someone else. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” This can happen as part of a formal gathering or by the fireplace between two friends. You might find a prayer buddy, a person who prays for your intention and holds you accountable to a prayer practice.

Prayer life is like an exercise routine or a diet. Some days we have more discipline and energy for it than others. However, strategies like using scripture, mantras, favorite prayers, and candles can get us unstuck and back into an enthusiastic conversation with God.

6 Prayers to Let Go and Let God

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

You’ve seen the bumper stickers, “Let Go and Let God.” It’s a nice sentiment. But many of us are afraid to do it. We stress and worry about circumstances out of our control. The notion of “what if?” consumes us. It’s as if there aren’t enough “knowns” in life so we have to imagine and fear a thousand likely, and unlikely, “unknowns” as well.

Ultimately, the only thing we can control is ourselves—our thoughts, words and actions (a full-time job for most of us).

The Daily Bible Large Print relaunch with digital free gift in article ad

That’s why “letting go” prayers can be so helpful. They remind us Who is in control. They relieve us of anxiety and restore inner peace. Here are six recommended “letting go” prayers from the Bible:

1) I do not know what to do but my eyes are on You

In the days of Israel’s King Jehoshaphat, a massive army threatened the nation’s capital. The king proclaimed a fast and called on everyone to pray. He called out to God, concluding his prayer with the words, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV). That’s a great “letting go” prayer, applicable to many situations—when you face a big decision, get bad news or feel helpless. It shifts your focus from your circumstances and onto God, usually the only one who can affect matters. Try it: “I do not know what to do but my eyes are on You.”

2) I will stand still and see the salvation of my God

Guided by God, Moses had negotiated his people’s march out of Egypt. But Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them with armies, inducing panic in the Hebrews’ camp. Moses told the people not to be afraid, to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13, KJV).And they did. God delayed the Egyptian army, parted the sea and delivered His people. It’s a helpful “letting go” prayer still, today. It expresses surrender, faith and hope: “I will stand still and see the salvation of my God.”

3) I am in Your hands

King David had messed up. Royally. His national census offended God and brought punishment on David and his people, prompting him to say, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great” (2 Samuel 24:14, NIV). Whenever we are in distress, it can be a help and comfort to know that we are in the hands of a merciful God, whatever may come. Let go by praying, “I am in your hands.”

4) Let it be to me as You say

Can anyone have received more mind-boggling news than Mary of Nazareth who heard from the angel that she would conceive and bear the long-awaited deliverer, God’s son? Her reply, however, is a beautiful model of letting go: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:38, ESV). She spoke to an angelic messenger, of course, but we can speak directly to God in saying, “Let it be to me as You say.”

5) Into Your hands I commit my spirit

Perhaps the ultimate “letting go” prayer was the quotation from the psalm Jesus prayed on the cross as He died: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46, NIV). We don’t have to wait until death’s door to utter these great “letting go” words. They’re a beautiful prayer of submission and surrender at any time: “Into Your hands I commit my spirit.”

6) I cast my cares on You

In a letter to the early church, undergoing great trials, the Apostle Peter told them to “[cast] all your care upon [God]; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7, KJV). His words, turned into prayer, can help us entrust our cares into God’s loving hands: “I cast my cares on You, Who cares for me.”

Together, these six prayers can ease our anxiety, focus our minds and hearts, and place us and all we love right where God can do the most with us and for us—in a posture of surrender and an attitude of “letting go.”

6 Good Reasons to Shout Your Prayers!

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

If the only pictures of prayer in your mind are of muted, quiet, serene—even silent—scenes, brace yourself. While there are good times and places to pray silently, there are also instances when it’s appropriate not only to vocalize your prayers (see my post on that subject here), but also to shout them.

To be fair, Jesus told His followers not to “show off” in public prayer, as the Pharisees of His day were prone to do; He said instead to pray in solitude rather than on the street corner or town square. Whether you’re praying in a private place or in public worship, however, there are good reasons and good occasions to shout your prayers. Here are six:

1) Shout for Joy
The psalmist told God’s people, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 98:4, NIV). So shout your joy. Laugh loudly. Leap, if you want to. And shout a joyful prayer to God.

2) Shout a War Cry
When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he defied the enemy and loudly proclaimed his faith in God (see 1 Samuel 17:45-47). We can do that, too, in prayer, as we defy our enemy and shout a battle cry.

3) Shout a Confession
God spoke these words to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah: “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1, NIV). There are times when a confession should be silent and moments when it is best shouted, so whether it’s a corporate or personal confession, shout it, don’t hold back, raise your voice like a trumpet and expel your confession with as much force as you can summon.

4) Shout a Promise
In the days of King Asa, the people of God gathered in Israel and “took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns” (2 Chronicles 15:14, NIV). So do as they did, and shout a promise to God. (If you have a horn handy, blow it too.)

5) Shout Your Praise
When Jesus told 10 lepers to go and present themselves to the priests (for a clean bill of health), they were all healed as they obeyed His words. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15, NIV). Being healed of leprosy is a great reason to shout a prayer. As is being healed of anything. Or being forgiven. Cleansed. Awakened. Strengthened. And more.

6) Shout Your Victory
Have you been promoted? Blessed? Had a prayer answered? Experienced a breakthrough? The psalmist sang, “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1, Berean Study Bible). So clap and shout your victory, every chance you get.

These are not the only reasons to shout your prayers, but they’re a start. What prayers do you shout?

5 Questions That Jesus Asked

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Jesus was always asking questions. “Why are you so afraid?” “Why do you call me good?” “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “Where is your faith?” By one estimate Jesus asked as many as 307 questions in the Gospels, a lot more questions than answers.

Why? Perhaps it’s because when we ask ourselves questions, we grow. We’re not just spouting off answers someone else has given us. We own the answers.

Here are just five of Jesus’ questions. Have fun with them. Savor them. Each one is worth praying through:

1) “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Jesus asked this of the disciples when they were repeating what other people were saying about Jesus’ identity. So much for what other people think. What do you think? That’s what counts.

2) “What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32)
Two blind men were among a large crowd following Jesus, begging for mercy. Jesus doesn’t heal them until they say exactly what they want. Prayer is a chance for us to articulate our needs. What do we want?

3) “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
What we value most will be shown in our lives. We are an open book. It is impossible to say “Lord, Lord” and truly mean it without following through.

4) “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” (Mark 8:19)
Jesus has performed an astounding miracle. Have the disciples fully noticed? Have they taken stock? Have you taken stock of the miracles done in your life?

5) “Do you love me?” (John 21:17)
Jesus asked Peter this question three times, and each time when the answer was yes the response was “Feed my sheep.” Talk is cheap. Love is everything. What do you do to show your love?

5 Powerful Prayer Styles and Why They Matter

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Many people have made attempts to classify the human personality, to make it easy and memorable to understand and categorize personal preferences and proclivities. The most famous system is probably Myers-Briggs, which measures introversion vs. extraversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling and judging vs. perceiving. Other personality tests or tools classify a personality by color (orange, blue, etc.) or even animal (otter, lion, etc.).

Understanding personality types may also help to explain why you pray the way you do. Or don’t. Or find it easier and more rewarding to pray in certain ways.

I’m no psychologist, but I do think a person who understands and functions according to his or her prayer personality type will be a happier and better praying person. See if my purely unscientific profiles below strike a chord:

1) The Hannah
Do you often pray silently, even when you’re alone? In a passion of prayer, do your lips move but no words come forth? Would an observer perhaps think you’re a little odd—or even drunk (as did the high priest Eli as he watched Hannah pray)? Then you might be a Hannah (see 1 Samuel 1).

2) The Elijah
Do you cry out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in times of trial and testing? Do you pray boldly? Loudly? In great faith and expectation that God will glorify Himself? Do you sometimes pray so long and hard that you’re depleted afterward? You might be an Elijah (see 1 Kings 18, 19).

3) The David
Have you ever sung your prayers? Written them? Danced them? Does your praying and worshiping sometimes embarrass your family? If so, you might be a David (see 2 Samuel 6, Psalm 23, Psalm 51).

4) The Daniel
Do you pray at the same time every day? Or in the same place or position? Do you cultivate a healthy prayer routine? Do you find that rituals tend to enhance your prayer life? Do you tend to stick to your prayer pattern even when it’s difficult? Then you might be a Daniel (see Daniel).

5) The Paul
Do you like to intercede for others, maybe praying more for others than you do for yourself? Do you pray from a long list? Do you even keep track of how God has answered your prayers and find your faith growing as a result? You’re probably a Paul (see Ephesians 3:14-21, Colossians 1:9-14).

These five “prayer personalities” certainly don’t exhaust the possibilities (after all, we all aspire to pray like Jesus, first and foremost, right?). But recognizing and praying according to the way God created you and relates to you, is healthy and holy.

5 Good Reasons to Pray Aloud (Even When You’re Alone)

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

There’s nothing wrong with silent prayer. On the contrary, the Bible depicts Hannah being judged by others (a priest, no less) as she prayed silently—but her prayer was heard and answered by God (see 1 Samuel 1). Still, there are some good reasons to pray aloud, even when no one but God is around to hear you.

1) Focus
Maybe, like me, you’ve nodded off while praying silently. Maybe (again like me) you even prefer to end your day by climbing into bed and praying until you fall asleep. But I don’t believe I’ve ever succumbed to sleep while praying aloud. Like David, who wrote, “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy” (Psalm 142:1, NIV), I find that praying aloud focuses my mind and heart on what I’m saying, and my voice reinforces my thoughts while also preventing distraction.

Light for Life NASB Study Bible in Article

2) Emphasis
Asaph urged God’s people to “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!” (Psalm 81:1, NIV). Some thoughts and emotions are almost antithetical to silent prayer; they must be spoken, even shouted. Joy, rage, confession and confusion are expressed and emphasized best, I think, when the vocal chords and tongue join with mind and heart in the act of prayer.

3) Memory
I remember some of the things I pray silently, but I recall far more of what I pray aloud. It’s simple math: thought + word = more memorable. And writing a prayer as I’m speaking it often adds more action to the equation, particularly when I’m praying for the needs of others. It’s easier to remember to pray for someone when I’ve already prayed aloud for that particular need.

4) Faith
I was once so overcome with disappointment and discouragement that I lay on the floor of my home office, face down, and prayed aloud for more than 30 minutes, “My help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (based on Psalm 124:8). I prayed those words aloud, over and over, sometimes softly and sometimes loudly, until I found myself believing them. Praying aloud—especially when combined with praying Scripture—can revive and increase the faith of the person who is praying.

5) Health
David sang, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” He said God’s hand was heavy on him, and “my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3, 4, NIV). It’s not healthy to hold in our emotions, and sometimes silent prayer just doesn’t give full expression to the things we’re feeling. Praying aloud can relieve our burdens and release our emotions in healthy ways.

Why not try it? If you’re accustomed to praying silently, it may take some effort—but praying aloud even when you’re alone might also be just what your heart, mind and soul need.

5 Biblical Prayers for Patience

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Mom had driven Dad to church at a time when he was moving pretty slowly. She parked the car, opened up the trunk and took out his walker. He slowly made his way down the sidewalk while Mom plowed ahead.

Someone greeted Mom, asking her how she was doing. “I pray and I pray for patience,” she declared. After all, she was Dad’s primary caregiver. At that point, Dad was heard to mutter, “Well, that’s one prayer God hasn’t answered.”

We all laughed at the story. But truth to tell, patience doesn’t come easy to most of us. Certainly not to me. The Bible seems to understand this. In fact, there’s a host of verses that we can all turn to as we do, just like Mom, pray for patience.

1) By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Look at this. Patience is a gift when we open ourselves up to something larger, the Spirit. Sure, you want to work at patience. I do. Better yet, I try to open myself up to God’s purpose. And see what comes!

2) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him… (Psalm 37:7)

The Psalmist is pretty clear about how to find that precious treasure. Stillness. Doing nothing. I confess I’m a lot like my mom, pushing ahead, proud of myself for getting things done, crossing them off my to-do list.

That’s why I need stillness so much. Every morning I sit on the sofa in silence. My thinking mind still screams out with that to-do list. And I let it go. Waiting for the Lord.

3) Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and late rains. (James 5:7)

The creation offers an abundance of lessons when you think about it.

You plant a seed. You might add a little fertilizer. The rains come or if they don’t come, you do some watering. Maybe some weeding. And see what happens from that little seed—the harvest you are given. A little bit of work on our part, the big work is the Creator’s.

4) Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way… (I Corinthians 13:4-5)

Okay, you’ve probably heard this passage at a million wedding ceremonies (back when it was easier to gather in large groups for such celebrations).

But don’t we need this passage even more now? God imbues us with love. God is love. Jesus is my model for how to practice such love. To love the poor, the dispossessed, those we might disagree with—even our enemies. Every day is a chance to practice this love.

5) But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles…(Isaiah 40:31)

This passage is what my 93-year-old mom asked the minister to read at her hospital bedside earlier this year. My siblings and I listened and prayed as we gathered around Mom. Little did we know that it would be the last day we spent with her on this earth.

I like to picture her renewed now, mounting up with wings like eagles. Yes, she prayed and prayed for patience. When I think about it, that prayer was indeed answered. In God’s good time.

5 Best Questions to Ask God in Prayer

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

What do you think are the most common questions people ask God?

I bet one comes to mind immediately—why? Right? We get bad news or hit a rocky spot and turn to God, asking, Why? But “why” is seldom—if ever—a useful question. I don’t think God has ever answered that question for me, probably because I wouldn’t understand if He did. But there are many questions that God has answered, at least for people in the Bible. Here are five of them:

1. Who am I?
When God assigned to Moses the task of going back to Egypt and telling Pharaoh to set the Hebrew slaves free, Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, NIV). It was, of course, a protest, a statement more than a question. But it is still a good question, one of the best we can ask God in prayer. Who am I? What is my identity. What does God say about me in His word, the Bible? The person who sincerely asks God, “Who am I?” is often abundantly blessed by the answer.

2. What if?
When God revealed to Abraham His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the patriarch posed a series of questions. “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?” (Genesis 38:24, NIV). He kept asking “what if?” until God answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it” (Genesis 38:32, NIV). Abraham’s questions didn’t save those cities but they do seem to reveal that God enjoys the “what if” questions. “What if we got together with other churches in our town for this purpose?” “What if I took a different course in my career?” “What if—” You get the idea.

3. How long?
One of the most frequent Bible questions is “How long?” The Psalms alone repeat the question 15 times. “How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1, NIV). “How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:2, NIV). “How long must your servant wait?” (Psalm 119:84, NIV). It is a better prayer than “why,” not only because the psalmists prayed it so often but perhaps also because it carries within it the seed of an answer: Not always. Not forever. Not (we hope) much longer.

4. What can I offer?
The beautiful Psalm 116 contains the question, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12, NLT). It is a fine question to ask any time. “What can I offer?” I see a need in my community; “God, what can I offer?” I hear the cry of someone in pain; “What can I offer?” I remember an upcoming appointment; “What can I offer?” It is a prayer question that will often squeeze sweetness out of the sourest circumstances.

5. What must I do?
When an earthquake opened the doors of the European jail in which Paul and Silas had been imprisoned, the jailer was shocked to learn that no one had escaped, and thus his life and livelihood had been preserved. The discovery prompted him to ask, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Then followed their famous answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31, NIV). It is a great question to ask in prayer, any time. “Lord, what must I do?” “What are you saying to me?” “Where are you pointing me?” “What will bring about deliverance and freedom in this situation?”

So give it a try. Feel free to ask God any question you want, but keep in mind that some are usually more fruitful than others. And these five—“Who am I?,” “What if?,” “How long?,” “What can I offer?,” and “What must I do?”—are among the best.

4 Ways the Spirit Can Help Us to Pray

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

I really thought I could carry all the groceries into the house by myself.

My wife and our daughter both offered to help, but I said no. Everything was in bags. And I’m a big strong manly man. I could handle it alone. You know what’s coming, right? Right. I tried to carry too much at one time—which would make fewer trips, don’t you know—and dropped one bag and spilled another, breaking a jar of barbecue sauce and injuring my pride.

Inspiration from the Garden in article ad

I often do the same sort of thing in prayer. Maybe you do, too.

We have been offered help. The Bible says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27, niv). Unfortunately, we too often try to pray “all by myself,” so to speak, instead of taking the help that is offered.

How can we accept the Spirit’s help when we pray? I can think of at least four ways:

1. Ask the Spirit to escort you to the Father.

My two-year-old granddaughter wanted me to meet someone she had just met. But her vocabulary wouldn’t allow her to verbally explain what she wanted, so she simply took hold of my hand and led me to her new friend.

God’s Holy Spirit does something like that too. He tenderly and graciously ushers us into the presence of the Father when we might otherwise feel or stay distant: “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15, nlt). So the next time you bow your head or close your eyes to pray, try picturing the Spirit taking you by the hand and leading you into the presence of your “Abba, Father.”

2. Ask the Spirit to tell you what to pray.

Most of the time we run into God’s throne room, breathless, spouting our urgent and important concerns according to the emotion of the moment. God welcomes us even then, just as Jesus blessed the children (see Matthew 19:1, Mark 10:13). But the Spirit can help us by telling us what to pray or for whom to pray.

So go ahead and rush into prayer whenever you can, but try also pausing sometimes to ask the Holy Spirit to tell you for what people, situations, or needs you should pray. You may be amazed at His answer.

3. Ask the Spirit to give you the specific thoughts and words to pray.

Sometimes—especially when we are overcome with emotion or faced with a crisis—we may find it hard to know how to pray. In moments like those, however, we can tell the Holy Spirit, “I don’t know how to pray about this. But You know all things; please help me in my weakness. Help me to pray what is on Your mind and heart. Give me the thoughts and words to pray right now, in accordance with the will of God.”

4. Ask the Spirit to pray for you.

You’ve asked your pastor to pray for you, right? And your mother or father? Maybe a few close friends? You may have posted prayer requests on social media or requested prayer through Guideposts OurPrayer. So why not also ask the Holy Spirit to pray for you? Again, the Bible says, “The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26, niv). In other words, the Spirit of God prays for us feelingly and passionately in ways that utterly transcend human language.

When the Bible says, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18, niv), it doesn’t say we have to do it all by ourselves. Help is available, if we only ask.