1. When you want to growth spiritually
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. – James 1:25
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. – Luke 2:46-47
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
Jesus was missing and his parents couldn’t find him. But he was in the temple with the elders learning and asking questions about the scriptures. This shows Jesus desire to learn about the ways of God for himself and the result mentioned in verse 52 was that he grew in wisdom, maturity and favour. I hear this prayer request every now and then. “Lord help me to grow spiritually in you. In reality if you want to grow spiritually, the answer is simple. Read your Bible and spend quality time studying and asking questions to wiser more mature believers. This will cause you to grow spiritually more than any prayer request will and this is the way that God intends your to grow.
2 Lord I need direction
See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” Joshua 3:11-13
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21
Take the first step of faith. Even if it looks like you don’t see in the natural a path for you to take. It was only after the foot of the priest touched the water that it stopped flowing. And the verse in Isaiah is one of my life verses directs to take the step first and then we will hear a conforming voice directing us. Pray and ask God what to do. Listen with ears of faith and then take the first step. Hod is faithful to honour your faith in him and confirm to you the way to go.
3 Praying for harvest but blocking it with your words
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – Proverbs 18:21
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” – Matthew 21:21-22
Often we hear people believing for some amazing things. And God is more than able to answer that prayer request. However, we need to remember that we can frame our world by what we speak outbid our mouths. When we are believing for something, it has a negative affect with we speak things that don’t support that thing in our lives. The principle here is to confess what you are believing God for and you will see it. God will answer your prayers but your negative confession might cancel it out.