Gleanings for January 4

Types of Prayer

Ephesians 6: 18 NKJV: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful…”

Prayer is such a vital part in the life of someone desiring to grow up spiritually. The verse we are thinking about today comes directly after the exhortation for us to “Put on the WHOLE Armor of God” (See verses 10 – 17). Prayer IS a spiritual warfare!! God’s Word is our chief weapon for victory over the enemy and Prayer activates the Word!!

We should be aware that there are various “types” of prayer. Moffat translates the verse like this: “Praying with all manner of prayer” and someone else puts it like this: Praying with all kinds of prayer.” Some of the “types” of prayer are:

(1) Prayer of Petition (2) Prayer of Consecration

(3) Prayer of Worship & Praise (4) Prayer of Commitment

(5) United Prayer (6) Private Prayer (7) Prayer of Agreement and

(8) Prayer of Importunity—which means special demands or requests.

As you think about that list, it will be easy for you to understand that there are different rules for praying these prayers, even as there are different rules for games that are played. Pastor Kenneth E. Hagin, says this about “all kinds of prayer.”

: “A visitor from Europe was taken by his host to see a baseball game in New York City. He didn’t know much about the game as it was not played in his country. He couldn’t understand some of the rules that were used so he asked lots of questions. We may have questions spiritually in regard to the different kinds of prayer, so different rules apply in each case. Using the wrong rule can be confusing.”

With the Prayer of Petition, which is by far the most frequent prayer of most Christians, we should pray the prayer of FAITH. (See Mark 11: 24) You must believe you receive. Jesus is concerned about everything that touches our lives (especially when we are doing His will.) He has made provision for us. III John 1:2 says: “I wish above all things that you will prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

For the Prayer of Consecration and Dedication, a good example is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (See Luke 22:42) He wanted to do the Father’s Will so He prayed “if You are willing…nevertheless not my will…” It was not a prayer to “get” something or to change something. It was a prayer of “Consecration”.

When we consecrate our lives for God’s use, we pray, “if it be Your Will”. When it comes to receiving from God and we know God’s Word agrees with it, we do not add that phrase; we already know it is His will that our needs be met. This may be a new thought for some of you but as you talk to the Lord about it I believe you will come to understand that it is true and it will help you to know that:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH!!!