“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:19 ESV

I’m really good at committing to things and then wanting nothing more than to stay home on the day of the event. But I go. . . because I’m trying to be a good person.

Case in point: I recently sang at a local baseball game. I hate performing alone, which is why I did it (have to be a model for my students!).

I’d been thinking about my prayers and how they once again feel like a laundry list of me telling God what He should do. I don’t know about you, but I need to do a self-reset every once in a while. I changed my prayers from asking for things to thanking God for who He is, based on scripture.

Here are some things I prayed the day of the baseball game:

Thank you, God, that You calm anxious minds. “. . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Thank you, God, that You want good things for Your children. “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13 ESV

This approach was also a different way to pray for people on my prayer lists.

• Side note about prayer lists: I keep a very simple journal – a list of names and sometimes what to specifically pray for that person. This way I can tell someone I’ll pray for them and actually mean it because I’ll remember to pray for them, which makes me more authentic in my faith and relationships.

For the people on my prayer list who are ill: Please let them know You as healer. “I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.” Psalm 30:1-3 ESV

For the people on my prayer list who are struggling to get through the day: Please let them know You as peace. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:26-27 ESV

For the people on my prayer list who are not believers: Please let them know You as Savior. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

And as a bonus – praying this way means I need to know attributes of God’s character, so I keep deep-diving into scripture to find out more about who He is!

How will you change the format of your prayers this week?

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:19 ESV