There is nothing that causes us to pray more earnestly, more frequently, and more whole-heartedly than difficulties that come into our lives. We all know that when we're faced with seemingly insurmountable situations or problems that seem impossible, we have to first seek the Lord's guidance. So we pray.

But HOW we pray in those trying times affects the results of our desperate prayers. Usually, if we're honest, our first response is to frantically pray for a way out. We want God to just make it go away. We can't do it ourselves, but we know God is able. So we beg Him to intercede for us, and just take care of this thing.

If we don't see results from our sincere pleas for Divine help, we tend to feel defeated and powerless. Why isn't God answering our prayers? Why isn't He helping us? If we're praying, "Lord, what shall I do about this situation?", we're praying the wrong thing. We are relying on our own ability to change the situation, we are just asking Him to show us what action we should take.

Instead, what we should be asking is, "Lord, will YOU please intervene in this problem". That demonstrates our reliance on Him, and what He can do. It acknowledeges that He alone is in complete control of the situation. It expresses our total faith and trust in Him. The first response focuses on ourselves, whereas the second focuses on God. What a difference it makes when we change our focus from self to Almighty God!

However, to truly pray this way, we have to be willing to fully surrender all our own ideas and plans, and submit to His will, with the full assurance that He will works all things out for our good and His glory. (see Romans 8:28) Like Jesus praying in Gethsamane before going to the cross, we have to simply trust God, and be obedient.