I pray for my kids every day.

I pray for their spiritual and physical safety.

I pray for their jobs, relationships, finances, and friendships.

I pray they will have courage, wisdom, boldness, kindness, peace, grace, and mercy.

I pray they will find favor in tough situations.

I pray they will step up and do what is right; that they will be honest, good people.

I pray they will draw closer to God.

When they mention something going on in their life I pray about that, too.

One thing I never, ever pray, though, is for overly specific things.

I never pray they will work this job or move to that place.

I never pray they will make a decision I think they should make or that they will do it one way or the other.

Instead, I pray and ask the Father to speak to their heart about which way they should go.

I also pray they will listen to Him and hear His promptings and follow His guidance so they will be in His will.

I try as hard as I can to practice this, even when I see them making foolish choices.

As much as I might want to say, “Lord, tell them No! Make them stop! They can’t do that anymore!” I instead ask Him to open their spiritual eyes, speak truth to their heart, and to help them see the choices they are making are hurtful.

I ask Him to give them wisdom and mercy and to protect them from their own poor choices.

Instead of trying to push my ideas, opinions, or choices on them, me asking Him to intervene points them to God and improves their relationship with Him.

It also strengthens both of our faiths because they grow closer to Him while I see Him working in their lives and answering my prayers.

When I pray and tell God what to do in their life or how I think things should go, I am setting myself up as god and trying to replace His authority and power with mine.

This is not prayer or help.

This is manipulation.

Manipulation – controlling or influencing something or someone in order to serve one’s own agenda or get desired selfish results,. Adjusting things so they turn out to your own advantage.

We are not supposed to manipulate.

We are supposed to surrender to God and to trust His perfect will and way of doing things in all things.

He is God and we are not.

He better knows what should happen and when.

Because He is God and can see all things, He sees, knows, and understands infinitely more than we ever can.

He knows exactly what they do and don’t need.

The things we’re asking and telling Him to do might bring our desired end results, but important lessons, opportunities, and blessings could be lost in the process.

Not just for them, but for us and for others in their lives.

So, instead of asking God to make things happen the way I think they should, I step back and look to God to handle things and to bring them about His way, in His timing.

This is an important part of faith – trusting God to handle a situation in a way only He could so that all those involved are helped in a way that brings about their good and His glory.

The next time you are praying for someone I encourage you to stop and listen to what you are saying.

Are you asking Him to work in their life?

Or, are you asking Him to do what you think needs done so it will turn out the way you think it should?

Which is better?

How can you adjust your prayers so they express faith in the One True God and not in your own ability to problem solve?