The short answer is…anything and everything! Scripture is very clear on this. Meditate on what the Spirit writes through Paul to the Corinthian church. I underlined for emphasis.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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” Phil. 4.6,7.
This is a recipe for prayerful living. We live in a world that is broken. Anxiety impacts everyone. We have contact with so many people along the way. How can we rejoice with everything that’s going on in the world and in our family, in our own life and our heart? The Spirit gives us the answer. Don’t worry about anything, but we need to lay everything before the Lord through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, and then God promises to give us the peace that surpasses all understanding. And by doing so, we can rejoice and be victorious in our own lives and with everyone we meet.
God is involved in every minute detail of our lives. We are his and he is ours. And he wants us to succeed and bring glory to his name. And at the same time, bring us the peace that does not exist within the world. And I don’t have to tell you that Satan, while not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent, is powerful and he has an interest in destroying your peace by whatever means possible. This is more than reason to pray about everything and leave nothing to chance. John writes in I John 4.4 that as children of God, “we have overcome the world and that he (Jesus) who is in us is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world”.(paraphrase) Prayer allows you to execute this truth. And gain victory!
We see that everything needs to be brought before the Lord in prayer. This takes away our self-dependence and places it in the hands of One who has already been victorious through the cross, the empty tomb and the ascension. Realize that Jesus is our High Priest seated at the right hand of the Father, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, and he, Jesus, is interceding for you and me every moment.
Prayer is all about change. Ever since the fall by Adam and Eve, we are experiencing sin of every nature in us and in the world. Prayer is an agent of change. And as R. C. Sproul says, “What prayer most often changes is the wickedness and the hardness of our own hearts.”
Several years ago while in Washington DC praying for our nation before a national election with others, a local pastor delivered a message about the power of prayer. Afterward, he looked straight at me and said, “Bill, you do know that God runs his universe, his kingdom, through the prayers of his people.” That was a profound thought. And one that has impacted my prayer life ever since. God has given his saints, born-again believers here on earth, the privilege, responsibility and the authority to bring about his kingdom purposes and to usher in the return of Jesus. How? Through obedient, believing prayer.
There’s no prayer too small or too large. He hears them all. And he will eventually answer every prayer, even at the day of judgment, if it’s his will to take that long. Prayer involves praise, so we enter into our prayer time, no matter where, no matter when, with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. It may be that you’re dealing with the sin in your life and the need for forgiveness and repentance. It can be that you’re praying for your family, your marriage, your children, your parents, whoever. There are people in your inner circle, extended neighborhood, in your country and around the world for whom you can intercede. We are told to pray for our leaders, no matter whether we agree or disagree politically. We are to lift up the sick, for healing and restoration. Even encouraged to call the elders together to pray over them. Prayers for salvation of family, friends, even enemies. Leave nothing to chance!! Amen!