There are different 'kinds' of prayer (see Eph.6:18 "...praying always with all prayer...").
So, I think:
a) We probably can't guarantee that everyone will be saved (see I Corinthians 7:16 "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?")
b) Therefore we mightn't be able to 'claim' everyone's salvation
c) But sometimes we might perceive in the spirit that 'claiming', and rebuking the devil, is indeed an appropriate way to pray about someone's salvation (see Acts 27:10 where Paul said "...I perceive..."; or Acts 9:15 where God showed Ananias in advance Saul's future calling.) Perhaps some of those people might get saved sooner rather than later, if someone prays for them in this way.
d) In other cases the prayer of 'intercession', or some other kind of prayer, might instead be more appropriate
e) And with other 'things', whatsoever we desire, sometimes we may perceive that it wouldn't be appropriate to 'claim' it - even though Jesus said "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23) - if the thing would overreach certain ethical and other parameters, known or unknown
f) But other times we might perceive in the spirit that claiming that thing specifically, and commanding the devil to take his hands off it, would indeed be an appropriate way to pray for it. Notwithstanding its intended parameters, the scope is so broad that Jesus still said "all things are possible to him who believes". And I would say many of us are yet to grasp the scope of it!
g) Sometimes just expressing a desire for something - or even a sigh - without 'asking' for it, per se - without even being sure whether it's God's perfect will or not - is enough, and your heavenly Father Who always hears us promptly grants it anyway, in detail. Because that's just the wonderfully kind Father He is! (As in Isaiah 65:24 "...it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear")
h) With other matters, the prayer of 'consecration' might be called for: "Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt"
i) Or the prayer of just "casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" - and leaving it there
j) And when we still don't know what to pray for as we ought, we know we can always pray with the spirit - with an unknown tongue - rather than with our understanding (I Cor.14)
Either way, we ought to "pray always and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). Praying "always with all [kinds of] prayer" (Eph.6:18).
Win!
So, I think:
a) We probably can't guarantee that everyone will be saved (see I Corinthians 7:16 "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?")
b) Therefore we mightn't be able to 'claim' everyone's salvation
c) But sometimes we might perceive in the spirit that 'claiming', and rebuking the devil, is indeed an appropriate way to pray about someone's salvation (see Acts 27:10 where Paul said "...I perceive..."; or Acts 9:15 where God showed Ananias in advance Saul's future calling.) Perhaps some of those people might get saved sooner rather than later, if someone prays for them in this way.
d) In other cases the prayer of 'intercession', or some other kind of prayer, might instead be more appropriate
e) And with other 'things', whatsoever we desire, sometimes we may perceive that it wouldn't be appropriate to 'claim' it - even though Jesus said "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23) - if the thing would overreach certain ethical and other parameters, known or unknown
f) But other times we might perceive in the spirit that claiming that thing specifically, and commanding the devil to take his hands off it, would indeed be an appropriate way to pray for it. Notwithstanding its intended parameters, the scope is so broad that Jesus still said "all things are possible to him who believes". And I would say many of us are yet to grasp the scope of it!
g) Sometimes just expressing a desire for something - or even a sigh - without 'asking' for it, per se - without even being sure whether it's God's perfect will or not - is enough, and your heavenly Father Who always hears us promptly grants it anyway, in detail. Because that's just the wonderfully kind Father He is! (As in Isaiah 65:24 "...it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear")
h) With other matters, the prayer of 'consecration' might be called for: "Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt"
i) Or the prayer of just "casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" - and leaving it there
j) And when we still don't know what to pray for as we ought, we know we can always pray with the spirit - with an unknown tongue - rather than with our understanding (I Cor.14)
Either way, we ought to "pray always and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). Praying "always with all [kinds of] prayer" (Eph.6:18).
Win!
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