Praying Specifically?

Question

I've just recently heard people in my church talking about "praying specifically." Can anyone explain it to me better? I'm hearing people praying numbers and timelines and it sounds to me like they're telling God how and when He is going to answer them. I don't know if this is something I need to grow my faith in, but I'm looking at them thinking, “What if God doesn't want to answer you that way?” I'm curious to know where the line is. Thanks!

Answer

One reason that many Christians do not experience great excitement, joy, or success in their prayer life is because their prayers are not definite. We do not specify our supplications to God, and therefore there is little clarity, faith, or power in prayer. No passage of Scripture reveals this truth more clearly than the healing of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52:
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
The blind man cries out in desperation as Jesus passes by, but with a vague cry for mercy: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Surely, the blind man wanted something more specific than mercy. The stories of Jesus’ healings were everywhere. Surely, this man was crying to Jesus out of knowledge that Jesus could heal his blindness. Yet, he does not ask for that specific healing, but for mercy in general. Why? Perhaps he is trying to be respectful to the Lord, giving Him the freedom to interpret “have mercy” however He wills. Perhaps he’s afraid to ask for such a specific desire for fear of being denied. Whatever the reason, Jesus, somewhat shockingly, stops, calls him forth, and asks him to clarify his prayer.
Specifying our desires before God helps us to realize what it is we truly desire! It forces us to  actually think about our desires and confess those desires before Him. It reveals the desires that are righteous and those that are unrighteous. It helps us understand ourselves and evaluate our hearts before Him.
It also helps us to “pray bigger” than we normally would. Instead of settling for the same old vague requests that never bring much direction or closure, God encourages us to look deeply into our hearts and express our innermost desires. What do we really want to see happen in our lives? 
What do we really want God to do? Are you praying like God can do “exceedingly more than we ask or think,” or like God can do very little? Are you praying a specific, godly desire and expecting to see it?
How will we ever know a prayer is answered unless we ask for something specific? Knowing a prayer has been answered clearly builds up our faith, builds relationship with God, and encourages us to pray more boldly and specifically in the future. His word tells us to come boldly before the throne of Grace with confidence and exception!!God deals with specificity, He honors people who pray with focus, like the case of the blind man Bartimaeus. 
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you received it, and it will be yours.” ( Mark 11:24, ESV)
As God’s children, we have to understand that praying is an act of faith. We don’t need to be timid, boldness is important in our prayers to God. We have to pray for the impossible, He is God Almighty. Pray in Faith, Pray for His will to be done, believe and you shall receive  When we pray specific prayers, we put God’s reputation on the line, we make Him want to break boundaries to help us. Today, put God’s word to test today, He is not intimidated by any of our prayers, in fact, it’s an occasion for Him to show off. 
You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2) A general prayer is not asking!  It will all happen in his timing!!
I hope this answers your question.
Be blessed!!

Praying Specifically?

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