September 17, 2026 | Resources
You can add more prayer to a problem, and still see nothing change.
You can leave your prayer time feeling stronger, but not have the answer.
Sometimes the question isn’t, “How much longer should I pray?”
Three better questions may reveal the answer you need.
In this article, I want to show you:
• how to recognize when you need wisdom, not just more prayer
• how to test the option in front of you
• how to look for the path, people, or connections you may not be seeing
At the end, I’ve included a one-page Wisdom Prayer Guide you can print and use during your own prayer time.
Let’s begin with the first question.
Question #1: “Lord, what wisdom am I missing?”
A very anointed minister once shared with me what happened after he finished preaching in Kenya.
On the long flight home, he wrestled with something he had noticed:
Many good ministers pray a lot, but still struggle financially.
Even his own father prayed for hours every day, and still had very little money.
Sitting on that flight, he prayed:
“Lord, could You explain this to me?”
The Lord spoke to him:
“There are two parts of the Gospel.
• The Person of Jesus, which creates your peace.
• The principles of Jesus, which create your prosperity.”
You can love Jesus.
You can pray for hours every day.
You can even pray about the problem specifically.
Yet the trial can remain.
Because you know the Person... but do not know the principle.
James 1 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.”
So instead of only asking God to remove the trial, pray this:
“Give me light.
Give me wisdom.
What do I need to know?”
But when an answer comes, ask the next question before you move.
Question #2: “Does this option agree with God’s way of doing things?”
You feel short on time.
You just need a way out.
You only see one choice.
Now is the time to pause and test that option against Kingdom principles.
Years ago a young man called me, right on the edge of panic.
“This is my only option,” he said. “I’m going to do this.”
“Don’t do that,” I answered.
He was about to run contrary to a Kingdom principle.
“Hold steady,” I told him.
“Stop what you’re doing. Let’s think."
"Be calm. I’m going to call you back in just a few minutes.”
We hung up.
His “only option” was now off the table.
That was good.
But he was not out of options.
He needed to ask the next question.
Question #3: “Lord, what legitimate paths, people, or connections are available?”
After we hung up, I told my wife Kelly what was happening.
She saw an option he had not considered.
She texted him, “Have you tried this? You could do this.”
As he read it, someone standing with him said, “That will never work.”
But he kept looking at the message.
Kept thinking.
Then it hit him:
“Wait a minute. I haven’t tried that.”
He went and checked.
That was his way out.
He acted on it.
Boom. It was over.
No problem.
All peaceful.
All good.
Like a storm that suddenly stopped.
Take these questions into prayer – and watch the answer unfold
Sometimes the strategy is not more prayer.
It is bringing wisdom into the prayer you are already praying.
This is challenging when the pressure is high... and you need an answer now.
But stop and ask God to show you His wisdom.
Make sure the path in front of you agrees with His ways.
Then stay alert for the godly help, options, or connections needed.
You'll begin to know what to do.
And sometimes, before the situation changes, something else changes first:
The fear begins to leave.
You become stronger.
More settled.
More confident in God.
Then your situation begins to change.
Wisdom Prayer Guide [Printable Resource Below]
You may be thinking:
“I understand the three questions — but how do I actually work through them when I need an answer?”
I’ve prepared a one-page Wisdom Prayer Guide to help you work through these questions with the Lord.
Use it during your next prayer time to:
• See what you may be missing.
• Slow down when pressure is driving the decision.
• Work through your options and identify your next faithful step.
[Click here to download the Wisdom Prayer Guide]
The PDF will open in preview mode. Click the download icon to save or print it.
Now pray this with me, out loud:
“Father, thank You that there is wisdom for every situation I face.
When I do not know what to do, remind me to ask You for wisdom.
Show me what I am not seeing.
Help me recognize what agrees with Your ways, and keep me from moving in the wrong direction.
Bring Your path, people, and connections into view.
Let Your wisdom rise up within me.
Give me light, understanding, courage, and strength to act when the answer becomes clear.
I thank You that problems are being solved, the way forward is being revealed, and I do not have to be ruled by fear or confusion.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”