Prayer is simply a conversation between a person and God, not limited by ritual or cultural expectations.
Genesis 18:22-33 (ESV):
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Reflection: When you pray, do you feel free to speak honestly with God, or do you hold back because of tradition or habit? What would it look like to approach God in prayer as a real conversation today? [16:24]
God graciously listens and responds to our prayers, even when our motives are mixed or imperfect.
Genesis 18:32-33 (ESV):
Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Reflection: Can you identify a recent prayer where your motives may have been mixed? How might you bring that honestly before God, trusting in His grace? [25:14]
Jesus models perfect intercession by praying for others, even those who wronged Him, showing us the depth of true forgiveness.
Luke 23:34 (ESV):
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life who has hurt you or whom you find difficult to forgive? Can you pray for them today, asking God to bless and forgive them as Jesus did? [27:17]
God knows best and may answer our prayers differently than we expect, always acting out of His loving and gracious character.
Romans 8:26-28 (ESV):
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Reflection: Is there a prayer you feel God has not answered in the way you hoped? How can you trust Him today to work out what is truly best, even if it looks different from your desires? [33:30]
We are encouraged to check our motivations in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal and purify them, while trusting in God’s patience and readiness to listen.
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV):
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Reflection: Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden motives in your prayers. What is one area where you sense your motives need to be surrendered to God today? [34:11]
Prayer is a deeply personal journey, shaped by our upbringing, church experiences, and even the broader culture around us. Many of our habits—like closing our eyes when we pray—are not biblical mandates but cultural practices that help us focus. Yet, it’s important to recognize that our personal “prayer culture” is often a blend of what we’ve seen, learned, and absorbed from others. Sometimes, we may find ourselves challenged when confronted with different ways of praying, whether that’s praying in tongues or engaging in unfamiliar prayer workshops. These challenges can be healthy, prompting us to examine our openness to the Holy Spirit and to growth in our prayer lives.
Turning to Scripture, Abraham’s conversation with God about Sodom and Gomorrah is a powerful example of intercessory prayer. Though it reads like a negotiation, it is, at its heart, a dialogue with God—a prayer. Abraham’s motives are complex; perhaps he’s driven by concern for his nephew Lot, or maybe by a desire to protect a political ally, or even by a hope that the righteous might save the wicked. The text doesn’t resolve these questions for us, and that ambiguity mirrors our own mixed motives in prayer. We often pray for others with a blend of self-interest and genuine concern, and it’s humbling to realize how rarely our motives are pure.
Yet, God’s response to Abraham is marked by patience and grace. God listens, engages, and even adjusts the terms of the conversation, showing a willingness to meet Abraham where he is. This graciousness is echoed in the ultimate act of intercession: Jesus, on the cross, prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Unlike Abraham, Jesus’s motives are perfectly pure. He intercedes for those who are actively causing his suffering, embodying the deepest form of forgiveness and love.
We are called to follow these examples—to intercede for others, even when our motives are mixed. God’s grace is such that he listens to our prayers, not because we have perfect intentions, but because he is perfectly loving and wise. He takes our prayers, filters them through his wisdom, and responds in ways that are ultimately for our good and his glory. As we pray for others, let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our true motivations, trusting that God is patient, gracious, and always ready to listen.
Genesis 18:16–33 (ESV) — > Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ...”
> (Read the full passage: Genesis 18:16–33)
Luke 23:32–34 (ESV) — > Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
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