Unspoken prayer

[Chrysostom]

We have received your unspoken request for your family and we join you in bringing it before God in the name of Jesus. He knows what you have left unspoken and He understands every need in your home even before you speak it.

We remember that God created us when we were not and made all things for our good, giving us life and breath and crowning us with glory and honor. He is merciful and provides for all, and He calls us to honor Him not only with words but with works and deeds.

We take great comfort that Jesus Christ ever lives to make intercession for those who come to God through Him. He is able to save to the uttermost, and He continually intercedes for us. Because He lives, you can bring every burden to Him with confidence, even those too deep or tender to put into words.

We pray that the Lord will meet the needs of your family according to His wisdom and mercy, that He will grant you peace, strength and unity, and that He will help each member of your household to trust Him more fully and to show His mercy to one another. May He guide you, sustain you and draw your family closer to Himself.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only Savior and High Priest, who alone brings us to God. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for entrusting this unspoken need for your family to prayer. God knows fully what you have not put into words, and He invites you to bring it to Him as your Father.

Prayer is first of all about His will being done. It is not a way to get Him to grant our wishes, though He does invite us to ask Him for what we need. Jesus gave us a pattern that begins and ends with God, His kingdom, His power and His glory, and in between we bring our own needs to Him. That pattern shows us that prayer includes worship, simply recognizing His greatness and goodness with awe, and petition, asking Him for our own needs, and intercession, bringing the needs of others before Him. A complete prayer life includes all three, and no order is more important than the heart behind it.

You can come to Him simply as a child talking to a Father. That relationship through Jesus Christ is what makes prayer real and alive. If that relationship is in place, He hears you. If you have never settled it, the first and most important prayer is to ask for His mercy as a sinner and receive new life in Christ, and that opens the way to every other prayer.

Your unspoken request matters to Him, and He also hears the earnest, heartfelt prayer that comes from deep need. Scripture says the fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, and gives the example of Elijah who prayed earnestly and saw God answer. It also says that when two or three agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done. We are joining our faith with yours now, asking according to His will for your family, whatever those needs may be, whether they involve provision, health, relationships, guidance or protection.

We also remember that prayer is not measured by many words or length, but by faith and sincerity, and that the Holy Spirit helps us as we pray, bringing needs to mind and giving comfort and assurance as we wait on the Lord. More is accomplished through quiet, faithful prayer than we will ever see on this side of eternity.

We are asking the Lord to be glorified in your family, to do what is best according to His perfect will, to provide what you need, to draw each one closer to Himself, and to give you peace as you trust Him. May He answer in the way that most shows His love and wisdom, and may you know His presence and care in the days ahead.