Charles F. Stanley - When You Dont Know What to Pray: 100 Essential Prayers for Enduring Lifes Storms

ZONDERVAN BOOKS

When You Dont Know What to Pray

Copyright 2021 by Charles F. Stanley

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ISBN 978-0-310-36079-7 (audio)

Epub Edition August 2021 9780310360780

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stanley, Charles F., author.

Title: When you dont know what to pray : 100 essential prayers for enduring lifes storms / Charles F. Stanley.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2021. | Summary: God longs to interact with us and help us with our burdens, but many of us struggle to translate our pain, desires, and hopes into words. In this book, internationally respected pastor and bestselling author Dr. Charles Stanley offers 100 heartfelt, powerful prayers that will transform your life and deepen your communion with ChristProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020037040 (print) | LCCN 2020037041 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310360773 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780310360780 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Prayers. | PrayerChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV245 .S648 2021 (print) | LCC BV245 (ebook) | DDC 242/.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037040

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037041

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst

Cover image: darekm101 / Getty Images

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

Printed in the United States of America

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Ebook Instructions

In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes] or [Your Response].

Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).

The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

ROMANS 8:2627

Prayer . It is the awesome gift that connects us to the living Godto the One who is able by His wisdom, power, and love to help us through whatever we face.

We know God is there for us, just waiting for us to approach His throne and present our burdened hearts to His care. We have learned this as a principle taught in Scriptureas what we are supposed to believe with our minds and hearts. The problem is, sometimes we dont feel itwe are unsure whether what we articulate will make a difference to the Lord. We want to trust Himwe want Him to intervene in our circumstances. But our doubts and insecurities about our own failings and limitations can take over. So we experience trouble even knowing what to say to Him.

At these times, we may feel somewhat lost about how to express the full depth of our desires or feelings to God. Perhaps we realize we dont fully understand what we truly need, much less how to verbalize it. There may even be moments when we are so exhausted and confusedin spirit, mind, and bodythat we can hardly muster the energy to open our mouths. Perhaps discouragement has taken such a strong hold of us that we cant imagine a way out of our painful circumstances, and all we can do is entreat the Father to help us.

Thankfully, Scripture promises the Holy Spirits help at those moments (see Romans 8:2627). And I believe that wholeheartedly. I know that the Holy Spirit teaches us how and what to pray in accordance with what the Father desires for us. So be assured, the Lord Himself will help you communicate with Him. That is how deeply He wants a relationship with you and for you to entrust your life to His care.

My prayer is that this book will help you hear how the Holy Spirit works through Gods Word to communicate to you, that youll be prompted to pray in agreement with Him, and that you will overcome the hurdles you face in walking with your Savior. This book is not intended to take His place in your life, by any means. So please dont expect these to be magical prayers or a guidebook on how to get what you want from the Lord. On the contrary, the goal is for you to hear Jesusto know Him better and love Him more in the distinct area where you are enduring a storm.

When you struggle in what to say to God, take these words as an example of how to pour out your heart to Him. And as you read these prayers, make them your own. Listen to what the Lord God is saying. As Scripture comes to mind, pray that too. Allow God to speak to you, heal you, and lead you in the way you should go. Learn to talk to and interact with your Savior. And may you experience the great joy and deep comfort of trusting Him through lifes every struggle, and the awesome victory of winning your battles on your knees with Him.

Lord Jesus, how grateful I am for the privilege of prayerfor the ability to communicate with You at any and every moment. Help me to pray and to be assured of Your salvation and presence. You are my Savior now and forever. You promise in Your Word that nothing can ever separate me from Your love (Romans 8:3839). You have guaranteed that when I seek You, I will find You, that when I pray, You hear me. Thank You for always being with me. How grateful I am that You show me how to rely on You through the storms and challenges of life and for the amazing depth of Your comfort and care.