Category: Prayer

Six Types of Prayer

by Kit Pharo | Jul 30, 2016 | Sabbath Day Devotion 

Prayer is a very important part of a Christian’s life. I’ve been told that there are over 650 different prayers recorded in the Bible. Although there may be many different types of prayer, I am only going to discuss six types in today’s SDD. It would be easy to spend a week on each one of these different types of prayer – but, for the time being, I prefer to keep our SDD discussions very basic.

Worship, Praise and/or Adoration. We can find many prayers of this type in the Bible. This type of prayer is focused wholly upon the Lord our God. It acknowledges God as the creator of all things. It gives God the praise and the glory that he rightfully deserves. I believe that all prayers should begin with this type of prayer. The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus gave us begins with this type of prayer.
Thanksgiving. This is a prayer of appreciation – giving thanks to God for all the gifts he has given us. Being thankful is one of the best ways to combat depression and times of self-pity. Thanksgiving is a part of nearly every prayer I pray.
Confession and/or Penitence. This is when we acknowledge the sins we have committed and ask for forgiveness. Psalm 51 is probably the best known prayer of this type in the Bible. We would do well to remember what Jesus says about this in Matthew 6:14-15. If we are unwilling to forgive others, God will not forgive us.
Petition. Petition means to ask for something. I suspect that this may be the most used and misused type of prayer. We all want material prosperity, health, happiness and popularity. When asking God for such things, however, we should always remember to add, “Your will be done.” It is interesting to note that God already knows what we need before we ask him (Matthew 6:8). I don’t know about you, but I often have trouble distinguishing between my wants and my needs.
Intercession. An intercessory prayer is a prayer offered for the benefit of someone else. More often than not, it is a less selfish form of the petition type of prayer.
Just Talking and/or Meditative. I often find myself “just talking” with God – like a child might talk to his father. Even though I don’t have a fancy name for this type of prayer, I think it is extremely beneficial. A meditative type of prayer is a time of silence spent in the glorious presence of God (being in the Spirit).

Don’t just GO to church; BE the church

A prayer for revelation

Ephesians 1:15-23

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:15‭-‬23 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.1.15-23.ESV

‘Some ideas come via information, but transformational truth comes by revelation’

Dr John Andrews, Christian Leader, Teacher and Author

New Prayer Resource! Transformations Ireland

About Us

Transformations Ireland and our friends have been meeting since 2000 to pray together for the transformation of our cities and nation.

Transformations Ireland and our friends have been meeting regularly since 2000 to pray together for the transformation of our cities and nation. This was initially inspired by the Transformations videos that show examples where communities and cities throughout the world are experiencing transformation as God moves in response to the churches in those areas uniting to pray and work together.

Community Transformation

Prayer, humility and deep repentance are key factors in seeing community transformation/transformational revival happen. Our concern has been to see prayer take place and to encourage relationships amongst Christians across all denominations. To this end we have organised prayer breakfasts, leaders retreat days, worship and intercession concerts, prayer meetings in Stormont (praying for our politicians), the Global Day of Prayer events from 2005 – 2010, a number of conferences on the themes relating to prayer and intercession, teaching courses on prayer, intercession and community transformation. We seek to encourage and to come alongside groups and individuals who are seeking God’s Kingdom to come and impact their community and we partner and work with other groups and organisations who have that same heart

We are delighted to support the work of Transformations Ireland as it networks, encourages and mobilises united prayer across Northern Ireland and Ireland.

JANE HOLLOWAY, PRAYER FORUM OF BRITISH ISLES & IRELAND

Vision

To see our LAND BLESSED and TRANSFORMED as the result of fervent united prayer of Christians in the churches.

To AFFIRM what the Lord is doing through different churches in our local communities.

To FELLOWSHIP with one another across denominations in order to strengthen our Christian family ties. We recognise that we need to avail of opportunities to develop trust and relationships amongst leaders and amongst church members in the nation.

To ENCOURAGE one another in united, fervent and persistent intercessory prayer. We want to be able to recognise the obstacles to the Kingdom of God in our nations and take positive action for their removal.

To VISION–CAST so that while individually we may work locally, we keep focused on the bigger picture of God’s transforming plan for our nation.

Values

We hold the following values……

These are values that the board of Transformations Ireland hold as important and central to all that we do. Also in pursuit of the broad vision outlined above, and with particular reference to the Global Day of Prayer events on Pentecost Sunday, we wish to see the following values expressed in initiatives we become involved in.

All church bodies and groupings of Christians, whether small or whether part of larger denominations, are valued and welcome to join with us in prayer for the Kingdom of God to impact our nation.

We want to encourage fervent and united prayer to see our nation transformed. It is not our intention to provide platforms to promote the ministries of individuals or organisations, including our own committee members.

We value support and encouragement from whatever source and in whatever amount. Although we shall be grateful and may acknowledge help given, we will not show particular preference to those who, by virtue of God’s blessing are able to support us in a significant manner.

We recognise that we are only a small part of the overall church and of what God desires to do in our nation. We trust that our contributions, by grace, may be found worthwhile and we wish to recognise others also who may have a similar heart to see our nation blessed through prayer.

LINKS

Pray for the Nations

1 Timothy

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

THE TIME OF OUR VISITATION

Luke 19:41-44: “And when Jesus drew nigh He saw the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! . . . but, thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” When conditions have reached their worst men are aroused from their sinful lethargy, by dint of conscious, sheer necessity, to call upon their God. This has transpired with us, and, as a consequence, in answer to our earnest and persistent cries for help, our God has come. We need Him.

Opportunity once passed, is lost forever. There is a time when the tide is sweeping by our door, we may plunge in and be carried to glorious success and blessing and victory. To stand on the bank shivering from timidity, or paralyzed by stupor, at such a time, is to miss all, and most miserably and eternally fail. Oh, our responsibility!

The mighty tide of God’s grace and favor even now is sweeping by us, in its prayer directed course. There is a river (of salvation) the streams whereof make glad the City of God. – Psalm 46:4; 65:9.

It is time for us to “get’ together,” plunge in, individually, and collectively.

“The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” We are baptized by one Spirit into one Body. – 1 Cor. 12:13.

Let us lay aside all “carnal” contentions, forget our petty, cursed differences, that separate us from each other, and from God.

If we are of His body, we are “one body.”

The opportunity of lifetime, of centuries, is at our door, to be eternally gained, or lost. There is no time to hesitate; act quickly, lest another take thy crown, and thou be covered with eternal loss and shame.

Oh, Church of Christ, awake! Put on thy wedding garments. A helpless world lies bleeding at thy feet. To the rescue! as at Earthquake shock.

First, be baptized, thyself, with power. Then fly to rescue others.

F. BARTLEMAN, Los Angeles, Cal. Tract written June, 1906.

With Christ in the School of Prayer by Rev. Andrew Murray

Click to listen

It is under a deep impression that the place and power of prayer in the Christian life is too little understood, that this book has been written. I feel sure that as long as we look on prayer chiefly as the means of maintaining our own Christian life, we shall not know fully what it is meant to be. But when we learn to regard it as the highest part of the work entrusted to us, the root and strength of all other work, we shall see that there is nothing that we so need to study and practise as the art of praying aright. … the Father waits to hear every prayer of faith, to give us whatsoever we will, and whatsoever we ask in Jesus’ name. (Andrew Murray, quoted from the Preface of this book)

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY or THE ONLY TEACHER by Rev. Andrew Murray

The disciples had been with Christ, and seen Him pray. They had learnt to understand something of the connection between His wondrous life in public, and His secret life of prayer. They had learnt to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer—none could pray like Him. And so they came to Him with the request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ And in after years they would have told us that there were few things more wonderful or blessed that He taught them than His lessons on prayer.

Available in various formats