Prayers for God to change me and my circumstances are requests that he reveal his glory and mercy on the stage of this world. David Powlison

Three categories of prayer

Circumstantial – requests to change the circumstances

Wisdom – Requests to change me

Kingdom – Requests to change everything by God revealing more of Himself.

Matthew 6:9-13

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Abba,

All of our prayers, all of our requests should be centered around Your glory. Request for change in our circumstances; requests for changes in us; requests for the revealing of your person should all be about the same thing….MAKING MUCH OF YOU.

Truthfully, our prayers often reflect our selfishness. Our prayers reveal what truly matters to us. Our prayers expose our priorities. Our prayers expose our true passions.

Perhaps this is why the prayers of the Puritans stand as such an example. They are passionate about Your glory, about making much of You in this world and in the one to come. The prayers that should so deeply resonate with us are those that convict us of our lack of love and passion for You, the weakness of our devotion. We want more. We want a depth of familiarity and intimacy with You that fills us with such deep satisfaction that there is no room left for envy of anything else in this life or eternity. We want all our passions and desires to be directed ever and only towards You. Grant us this reality.

May every request we make, at its core, be compelled by a deep and abiding longing for Your glory to be made known. And as that glory is revealed, may it satisfy so deeply that we never consider using prayer selfishly ever again. May YOUR glory be the highest good that satisfies our every longing with perfection.