Petition

“Ask and it shall be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7,8

Petition is asking things for myself. Its hard for me to ask for something for myself. It seems selfish. I think I should pray more for other peoples needs (and I probably should). I think I should praise and thank God more (and I probably should). But I need to remember its o.k. to pray for myself and my needs and wants.

The second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” If I don't love myself enough to pray for me, how can I love my neighbor enough to pray for them?

Self-love is a bad word these days. Primarily because it brings to mind a narcissistic, worldly, self idolatry. That concept is not what the Bible talks about. It refers to the care and feeding of our body and soul. Feeding is necessary for me to be fully functional and fulfill God's will for my life. That includes praying for myself.

The Lord's Prayer Example of Petition

The disciples had been hanging out with Jesus for several months. They had the privilege of observing Him in action – praying. One day when He was finished praying, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, . . .” (Luke 11:1) They were asking, so He taught them.

Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father
hallowed be your name
your kingdom come
your will be done
give us each day our daily bread
forgive us our sins
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us
and lead us not into temptation.”

I wrote down these things to remind me what to pray for myself:

1. I direct my praying to God the Father.
2. I first praise God for who He is.
3. I then pray for God's kingdom to come.
4. I also pray for God's will to be done.

I believe 3 and 4 are for my benefit. Jesus wants me to ask the Father to do these things as a reminder to me that my mission is to help build the Father's kingdom on earth. And that my will should chose to submit to the will of the Father.

5. I need to ask for my daily bread.

Proverbs 30:7-9 sheds some light on this request. Verse 8 ends, “but give me only my daily bread.” The reason is in verse 9, “otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?' or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Based on this, I believe I should not ask for too much or for too little. But enough to remember that the LORD is in control.

6. I need to ask for forgiveness. I need to confess my sins.
7. I need to forgive others who have sinned against me.

Numbers 6 and 7 remind me that confession is important. Confession to God. Forgiveness from God. Forgiveness for others.

8. I need to ask for help in avoiding temptation.

Number 8 minimizes my chances of sinning by reducing the opportunity to sin by avoiding the temptations to sin in the first place.

I wrote these eight things down on a 3x5 index card and use it as a reminder of what to pray.

Jesus' Example in John 17.

In John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for everyone who believed in Him. I use these examples when I pray for other people. I can also use them when I pray for myself. I figure if it was good enough for Jesus to pray for His disciples and followers, it should be good enough for me to pray for myself.

In addition, He prayed some things for Himself which I adapted and pray for myself.

I have written them on a 3x5 index card like this:

1. “Father, help me to glorify You.” (John 17:1)
2. “Father, help me to know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
3. “Father, help me to complete the work you have given me to do. (John 17:4)

Paul's Examples in the Epistles.

When Paul wrote letters to the early Christians, he included examples of things he prayed for them. I use these examples when I pray for other people. I can also use them when I pray for myself.

Use the examples discussed in Practical discipleship tips for intercession when praying for yourself. Just insert your name in the blank instead of the names of your friends. Thats what I do.

Practical Discipleship for you to do:

1. Write the prayer requests from the Lord's Prayer on a 3x5 index card and use it when praying for yourself.
2. Write the prayer requests from Jesus' prayer in John 17 on a 3x5 index card and use it when praying for yourself.
3. Write the prayer requests from Paul's prayers in the Epistles on a 3x5 index card and use it when praying for yourself.
4. Start a list of things you are asking God to do. Fold a sheet of paper in half length-wise. On the left side of the page write your requests. On the right side of the page write down the answers when God gives them. Expect God to answer your prayers.

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