PRAYER REQUESTS

To plead means to make an emotional appeal. To request is to ask politely or formally for something . To petition is to make a formal request or appeal. To appeal is to ask a serious or urgent request. Plea, request, petition, appeal… These are all English words that can be used to describe a type of prayer. Depending on the translation, you could see one or all of these. It’s not a praise for who God is, a thanksgiving for what He’s done, or a confession for what we have done or need to do. This category includes anything we ask of God. Most commonly this category is called “prayer requests”.

I think the words “plea”, “request”, “petition”, and “appeal” all bring really interesting aspects to defining what a prayer request is. For example, to plead for something implies emotions and urgency. It’s OK to ask God for things we are emotional about. The Psalms are all passionate and emotional prayers. In Psalm 3 David cries out to God to save Him. He sounds sad and discouraged and fearful, yet he asks for deliverance. On the flip side, to request something is to ask politely and formally. Even though we are able to cry out to God, it is important to remember that God is much higher than we are. He deserves and demands respect so we shouldn’t be flippant in our prayers. Job cried out in his emotions but went a step too far and confessed He lost sight of God’s greatness (Job 42:1-6). A petition is very similar to a request just often written out, but an appeal is interesting. To appeal is to ask a serious or urgent request. That should remind us that we can go to God at any time and all the time! Psalm 139:1-4 even reminds us that God already knows what we are going to say, so no matter the time, God listens.

So prayer requests could be emotional, should be respectful, and can be asked at any time. You might notice there is a word I haven’t used yet: supplication. Much like the other English words, this one means to ask something. But it always adds that the request is made in humility. What a great reminder of our attitude behind our approach to requests. This reminds me the most of Jesus in the garden. Matthew 26:39 reads, “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus gave us such a perfect example of how to ask. He shows us that we should go to the Father with any request, but in humility accept God’s plan no matter the outcome.

The next few blog posts are going to be all about prayer requests. This is just a taste of the vast topic. For now, I just hope we are all encouraged to be offering requests to God with passion, respect, humility, and at any time, including times of urgency. He is a God who hears!

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