This is a deep and powerful question. Jesus' promises about prayer and divine possibility are some of the most awe-inspiring—and challenging—in all of Scripture. Here's how we might faithfully respond to it:
You referenced several key statements of Jesus:
"With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
"Nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)
"All things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)
"Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13–14)
These are invitations to trust in the boundless power and goodness of God—but they’re also rooted in relationship, not formula.
Here’s a thoughtful, biblically grounded answer:
"Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
Even Jesus in Gethsemane prayed:
"Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)
✅ So Christians should pray boldly, but always in surrender to God's wisdom and will.
Faith to believe in God's goodness even when the answer is "not yet" or "no."
Wisdom to ask rightly (James 1:5).
Spiritual strength to endure trials and become more Christlike (Romans 5:3–5).
✅ Prayers for these things are always aligned with God’s purposes.
Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, and calmed storms. Christians are invited to pray for the same:
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders..." (James 5:14–15)
"Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)
✅ We are to pray for real, physical needs—ours and others’—expectantly and with compassion.
Paul urges prayer for:
The salvation of others (Romans 10:1)
Open doors for the gospel (Colossians 4:3)
Growth in love, purity, and good works (Philippians 1:9–11)
✅ These are high prayers—eternal in value—and always in line with God's heart.
"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." (Luke 11:4)
The heart of the gospel is mercy. We pray for personal cleansing and the grace to forgive.
Jesus' promises are not blank checks—they’re invitations into a trusting relationship.
Reasons why some prayers seem unanswered:
God's timing is not ours.
What we ask for may not be best, even if we can’t see it.
Faith isn’t magic—true faith accepts both miracle and mystery.
Sin or motives may hinder prayer (James 4:3, Isaiah 59:2).
God may be doing a deeper work than the one we asked for.
Christians should pray for:
God's will to be done, through faith and surrender.
Their own hearts to be conformed to Christ.
The needs of others, healing, peace, justice, and provision.
Miracles—but not more than they pray for mercy and transformation.
The advance of the gospel and the glory of God in all things.
They should pray boldly, humbly, persistently, and expectantly—because they pray to a Father who loves them, not a vending machine.
Would you like a list of sample prayers based on Jesus' teachings?
The following quote is taken from Book 4, chapter 3, section 4 of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. BOLD and All CAPS added by me.
4. Those who preside over the government of the Church, according to the institution of Christ, are named by Paul, first, Apostles; secondly, Prophets; thirdly, Evangelists; fourthly, Pastors; and, lastly, Teachers (Eph. 4:11). Of these, only the two last have an ordinary office in the Church. The Lord raised up the other three at the beginning of his kingdom, AND STILL OCCASIONALLY RAISES THEM UP WHEN THE NECESSITY OF THE TIMES REQUIRES. The nature of the apostolic function is clear from the command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). No fixed limits are given them, but the whole world is assigned to be reduced under the obedience of Christ, that by spreading the Gospel as widely as they could, they might everywhere erect his kingdom. Accordingly, Paul, when he would approve his apostleship, does not say that he had acquired some one city for Christ, but had propagated the Gospel far and wide—had not built on another man’s foundation, but planted churches where the name of his Lord was unheard. The apostles, therefore, were sent forth to bring back the world from its revolt to the true obedience of God, and everywhere establish his kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel; or, if you choose, they were like the first architects of the Church, to lay its foundations 2319throughout the world. By Prophets, he means not all interpreters of the divine will, but those who excelled by special revelation; NONE SUCH NOW EXIST, OR THEY ARE LESS MANIFEST. By Evangelists, I mean those who, while inferior in rank to the apostles, were next them in office, and even acted as their substitutes. Such were Luke, Timothy, Titus, and the like; perhaps, also, the seventy disciples whom our Saviour appointed in the second place to the apostles (Luke 10:1). According to this interpretation, which appears to me consonant both to the words and the meaning of Paul, those three functions were not instituted in the Church to be perpetual, but only to endure so long as churches were to be formed where none previously existed, or at least where churches were to be transferred from Moses to Christ; ALTHOUGH I DENY NOT, THAT AFTERWARD GOD OCCASIONALLY RAISED UP APOSTLES, OR AT LEAST EVANGELISTS, IN THEIR STEAD, AS HAS BEEN DONE IN OUR TIME. For such were needed to bring back the Church from the revolt of Antichrist. The office I nevertheless call extraordinary, because it has no place in churches duly constituted. Next come Pastors and Teachers, with whom the Church never can dispense, and between whom, I think, there is this difference, that teachers preside not over discipline, or the administration of the sacraments, or admonitions, or exhortations, but the interpretation of Scripture only, in order that pure and sound doctrine may be maintained among believers. But all these are embraced in the pastoral office.
See also my blogpost:
John Calvin Apparently Received a Word of Knowledge from God
