Praying As Gods Coworker.
In the book, The Scandal of the Kingdom Parables, Dallas Willard indicates that Jesus’ invitation to pray is an invitation to a relationship.
We become God’s coworkers. Working with him on the same project. (See Paul in 1 Corinthians). We always talk about God having a plan for people, churches even nations. He does. He is actively engaged in his world. He invites us to become involved in what he is doing by action and prayer
Often I find myself deciding what God should do in a situation and start praying for him to do it. In effect, I put myself over God telling him what he ought to do. On reflection, we are a minor part in what He is doing in the world. He is the major actor. He is the one with the power to “get er done”.
Seems like we would be better off asking him what he wants to do in a given situation and then asking for that. Wouldn’t that be praying in accordance to his will? What we want may be very different from what He wants to achieve. His idea is much better.
Try it. As you begin a prayer time think of the situations/people that you are going to pray about and ask him how you should pray for them. Ask him what he wants to do in those situations/people. Then wait silently for his answer. Then pray.
Prayer should be a conversation. Give him a chance to guide you. I think he will.
Still learning.