Modern-day Christians can learn some good lessons from Old Testament prayers. When Jehoshaphat beseeched God for help, he struck a balance between asking the Lord to meet his needs and proclaiming His greatness. Likewise, our requests shouldbe made with recognition of who God is. Otherwise, the focus of our prayers becomes need, weakness, failure, or fear.

Jehoshaphat cried out to God about his terrible predicament, but he also exalted the Lord’s attributes, acknowledging the great things He had done. When we pray like this, we become stronger, bolder, and more forthright. That’s why knowing the Word of God is so important. When we read about how the Lord worked in the lives of others, we understand His awesome power and might. Then we can look to the men and women of the Old Testament as an example and begin to pray in a similar way. God’s wonder-working power is still available today, and He wants His children to access it.

By proclaiming, “Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You” (v. 6), Jehoshaphat was praising God and at the same time reminding himself of the Lord’s greatness. As you pray, remind God of His mercy, talk to Him about His grace, and recall His mighty power.

Do you want to revolutionize your prayer life? If you focus as much attention on declaring the attributes of the Lord as you do on making requests, your prayers will take on a whole new dimension. They’ll cease to be self-centered and instead will become God-centered.