Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

When your birthday came around as a kid, do you remember what you asked for? As a kid I used to have very specific requests for gifts, I remember asking one year for a toy car that had to be red. It was a Hot Wheels car because I loved Hot Wheels growing up. It had to be a model car that was real not a made-up car but something I could see on the road as well. I remember just having in my head a very specific request. As I’ve gotten older my birthdays have gotten less specific maybe to the frustration of those who want to give me gifts.  Whenever they ask what I want, I answer “I don’t know, something nice.” This year once again, I ran into the issue of what I want. I could come up with a list of generic things, but being specific was hard. When we ask for specific things it gives those who love us glimpses at what is important to us, what we need or want. It also helps us solidify expectations and desires. Asking for specific things allows us to connect with the giver when we know what we asked for was heard and fulfilled. Our relationship to God and with prayer gains those same benefits, when we are specific. Let's get specific about what it means to ask God for something specific in prayer. 

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

Specifically Benefiting Us 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to the people explaining that God is a good gift giver. He says that if we as humans know how to give good gifts, how much more with our Father in Heaven give good gifts? When it comes to specific gifts, you have to know the person you have to know what they want. You could argue that God knows us. He already knows what we want so why would we have to be specific? I think the benefit of specific asking isn’t for the giver it’s for the one asking. God knows what we need, God knows what we want. I think the true question is, do we know what we really want? By asking specific things we are opening up our hearts to God. By revealing our true desires to God we are connecting with the one who can fulfill our needs. By revealing to God our desires, we are opening up our hearts to God, and he can start to mold our desires to fit his plans.

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:32-34 

Example of Jesus

When I think of Jesus' prayer Life, I think of prayers that are focused on others. Jesus prayed all the time. When he prayed, he often prayed specific prayers for others. When Jesus healed many of the sick, the lame, and the blind he prayed to God. In those prayers, he was praying for that person specifically. Even on the cross, Jesus was petitioning God for others. Jesus prayed for those around him, asking the Father for forgiveness for them. This forgiveness wasn’t general forgiveness over all of their lives, although I’m sure he wanted that. This forgiveness was specifically stated because in Jesus' words “ they do not know what they do” Luke 23:34. You see Jesus could’ve prayed for himself. He could have prayed a general prayer. He was in agony. His mind was filled with pain. However, in his moment of agony, taking on the sin of the world, Jesus prayed for the people around him a specific prayer.

SpecifiCs in practice 

So what does it mean for us to pray specifically? It means to bring names to God. It means to bring specific scenarios before the throne of grace. God is used to these kinds of requests. He got them all the time from Jesus. God does not shy away from specific requests. You may be hesitant to bring specific requests because what if he doesn’t answer them? But that’s the beauty of specific requests you know when it doesn’t get answered and when it does. God isn’t a genie, God isn’t a magic wish. There will be times when our specific requests don’t get answered in the ways that we want. But because we have asked God a specific request we can see the fulfillment of our requests in our lives. Sometimes we’re looking for answers immediately, but I suspect that we won’t know the outcome of some of our specific prayers until we get to heaven. But I’m OK waiting until then, knowing that our God in heaven hears my prayers and is acting in the ways that he sees best. That’s the beauty of prayer. Prayer is not just speaking to the open space in front of you. Prayer is speaking to the God of the universe.

Give it a Try

 Our God wants to know what is on your heart. He wants to work with you and for you. The best way to let someone who loves you give you good gifts is to be specific. if you haven’t tried out a specific prayer, I would encourage you to do it. Just start praying specifically. Speak out names of people, specific names. Talk about situations being as detailed as you can. You’ll find as you practice this it’ll become easier to pray specifically. You can have a prayer journal or list with names you read off or situations that need remedying. However you do it, you want to be specific try it. God wants to hear what is on your heart. When Jesus was about to be arrested, he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. In this prayer, he prayed for God to take the cup that was being passed to him. He prayed a specific prayer and yet each time he prayed, he prayed specifically for God’s will to be done. If you are experiencing a heavy burden let God know about it. Tell him all the details and let him take it away. I pray that as you experience these specific prayers, you will give him the burdens of your life and allow him to shape the desires of your life.