How to Pray & What to Pray for – What the Bible SaysSýnishorn

What to Pray for: “So That”

In the last reading, we saw that Jesus said that you can ask God for anything, and that your prayers – if they are in line with God’s plan – will be answered. 

So how do you know what to pray for? 

Short of knowing God’s plan in detail, the Bible gives us some very clear guidance on what to pray for, often through the use of two simple words: “so that.”

For an example of this, let’s go back to the time of King Hezekiah in the Old Testament, back to 2nd Kings 18-20. As king, Hezekiah proved himself to be one of the better leaders of Israel:

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.  And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.  – 2 Kings 18:5-7a 

Hezekiah put God first, and in return, God prospered pretty much everything he did. Contrary to others, Hezekiah remained faithful to God’s plan, not seeking his own glory or pleasure. This is an important characteristic for you also, especially today.

But then came the test. Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, had already captured the cities of nearby Samaria and the outlying cities of Judah, finally surrounding Hezekiah and his people in the capital city of Jerusalem. A major crisis for Hezekiah!

As the enemy forces closed in and sent threatening messages over the city wall, Hezekiah didn’t seek guidance from his advisors, strength from his troops, or reassurance from his people. Instead, check what he did – it is instructive for anyone in crisis today:

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth…. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”  – 2 Kings 19:14-15,19

As you re-read Hezekiah’s prayer, note the use of the words “so that” in the closing of his prayer. In so doing, he gives the underlying reason for his prayer—not that he, the city, or the people for whom he was responsible would be saved but “so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” 

Now compare Hezekiah’s prayer to how you pray. When you present your request to God for guidance, wisdom or help, what is the “so that” behind your request? For what reason might God answer your prayer? 

Prayers with a “so that” focused back on yourself might not be what God has in mind, and may therefore go unanswered. But prayers focused on helping others and bringing glory to God fall into an altogether different category, don’t they?

As you face your next problem or challenge, try attaching a “so that” clause as you pray over it. For example, you might ask God to answer your request so that:  

• others may see God’s hand in your work  
• a door may be opened for your testimony  
• God may be made known or glorified

Like Hezekiah’s prayer, your prayer should also seek to glorify God and make Him known to those you work with. Not sure how to do that? Then check James 1:5 once again.

Reflection / Application  

1. In a time of crisis, how does prayer figure in as compared to seeking advice, working harder, or checking with your friends?   
2. Praying is easy, especially when times get tough.  But praying with a “so that” clause to glorify God (instead of just solving your problem) is a whole other matter. Think about your last problem situation and how you might have done that. What might have been your “so that” clause?  
3. Glorifying God is not just for times of crisis. How can you glorify God in your life? Is this something you can do daily?