This story of two blind men gives some insight to how I should pray.

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd was following.  Two blind men who were sitting by the road heard that Jesus was passing by, so they began to shout, “Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!”

The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!”

Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

“Sir,” they answered, “we want you to give us our sight!”

Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed him. – Matthew 20:29-34 GNT

I need to be desperate enough to get to Jesus and not so concerned with formalities or what people think. That means I approach Him directly, myself, not looking for someone else to be praying for me. The simplicity in conversation matters so that I can speak exactly what is on my heart., not beating around the bush. I do not need to be afraid in crying out – loudly. It is not because God is deaf and He already knows my heart, rather, it does something to me to lift my voice in prayer – it keeps me focused on Him and on what I am saying.

Putting my faith on the line is what those who were with Nehemiah did.

We, the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Temple guards, the Temple musicians, the Temple workers, and all others who in obedience to God’s Law have separated themselves from the foreigners living in our land, we, together with our wives and all our children old enough to understand, do hereby join with our leaders in an oath, under penalty of a curse if we break it, that we will live according to God’s Law, which God gave through his servant Moses; that we will obey all that the Lord, our Lord, commands us; and that we will keep all his laws and requirements. – Nehemiah 10:28-29 GNT

They too were blind at one time and now they realised they needed a course correction and were willing to come back to an obedient walk. They were looking for a different healing, one that required them to state clearly and simply, “Lord, whatever it takes I want to follow You. Whatever it takes I want to be Yours.”

That looks different at various stages of our walk. One example that sticks out for me is the praying together of the church for Paul as he heads back to Jerusalem for his final journey.

 When Paul finished, he knelt down with them and prayed.  They were all crying as they hugged him and kissed him good-bye.  They were especially sad because he had said that they would never see him again. And so they went with him to the ship. – Acts 20:36-38 GNT

Instead of praying for themselves, this is a great example of how to pray over others. They had learned how to kneel and pour out their hearts.

“A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.” – John Owen