God told Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet and would pray for him. Prophets pray for the people they serve. When Abraham prayed for Abimelech’s household, God healed them. In that moment, the covenant promise began to unfold: through Abraham, all families of the earth would be blessed.
How to Pray for Your Enemies
In the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer, Joseph Smith models an approach to praying for our enemies. He expresses hearfelt empathy for those who have been wronged and a desire for their deliverance, but he also expresses a sincere hope that the offenders will change their hearts and receive God's grace.
“We Ask Thee, Holy Father”
Principles of prayer from Doctrine and Covenants 109: 1. When we ask God to dedicate a place, we're actually praying for people. 2. It's okay to ask God to help you keep a commandment. 3. Pray for a variety of people, including those who are hard to love. 4. Pray for God to accomplish His work.
Thy Daily Walk
The Lord emphasized to Martin Harris that we need to focus on our "daily walk," living every day according to the counsel we have received. Two essential components of our daily walk with Him are prayer and gratitude.
Pray Vocally
The Lord instructed Martin Harris, "Pray vocally as well as in thy heart." Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has encouraged us to pray out loud whenever possible, even when we are alone. He said, "I think this process is basic to how God communicates with us and how He intends for us to communicate with Him."
The Counsels of God
Jacob said, "Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from His hand." When Joseph Smith asked a question three times, he probably didn't think he was rejecting revelation, but he was. We need to pray with the intent to learn, not to persuade.
It Began with a Question
Many Book of Mormon prophets received knowledge by asking questions in prayer. The Restoration of the gospel began when Joseph Smith asked questions in prayer. Well-formed questions asked in faith can open our hearts and minds to receive revelation.
Pray On!
Jesus prayed with His disciples in the Americas. For an extended time at the beginning of the second day, the people prayed. Jesus encouraged them with the words "Pray on." Afterward, He encouraged them to continue to pray in their hearts.
The Words We Pray
We never have to clarify anything to God—He already knows what we're trying to say. But we may need to clarify for ourselves. Asking the right question can be a prerequisite for receiving and understanding the answer. God can help us know what to pray for.
Recognizing Unexpected Answers
Helaman's people prayed for strength, support, and deliverance. They received peace, faith, and hope. Those spiritual gifts enabled them to improve their situation. We need to learn to recognize the unexpected answers to our prayers.