Be Specific

One of my former pastors had a simple saying that has stayed with me for years: “Pray specifically for specific things.” It sounds almost too simple, but there is a lot of wisdom packed into those few words.

When a loved one faces surgery, I don’t just pray, “Lord, help them.” I pray for the surgeon to be well-rested, properly hydrated, calm, focused, and blessed with steady hands. I pray for every nurse, aide, assistant, therapist, hospitality worker, and even the janitorial staff who will play a role in recovery. I pray for them to help my loved one the way that Christ would personally.

God already knows every detail, of course, but there is something powerful about bringing those details before Him. He doesn’t invite detail because He lacks information, He wants the details to foster our relationship and trust in Him. Specific prayers help us focus our faith on specific needs.

I’m not especially spiritual, and I certainly don’t glow in the dark, but I have learned that specific prayers often make it easier to recognize specific answers.

As I look at the grassy area in my backyard, I’m already planning next year’s garden. I have a specific size in mind, specific vegetables and fruits to plant, and a specific harvest I hope to enjoy. A handful of random seeds tossed into the dirt might produce something, but it won’t be nearly as effective as a thoughtful plan. Different plants require different amounts of sunlight, water, and care.

Our prayer lives can be much the same.

Recently, my wife and I prayed for a photographer who told us she wanted to be married someday. We didn’t just pray for “a husband.” We prayed for the man that God is preparing—his safety, his work, his faith, his family, and his direction in life. We prayed that God would bring them together at exactly the right time. And we know that He will.

Maybe today isn’t a challenge but an invitation. Take one vague prayer request and refine it. Fine tune it. Unravel it in a new direction. Pray specifically for your specific thing, then trust God for His specific answers.