What Kind of Prayer?
When we look at prayer, there are two kinds of prayer that come to my mind.
- Prayer of asking and bringing request and petition
- Prayer of communicating with God
Although the prayer of communicating with God includes prayer of asking God and petitioning, when we are learning to pray or desiring to know how to pray, it can make some difference.
Some may want to know how to pray because there are certain needs in their lives that they would want God to help. Whereas, when someone comes to know God, they may desire to learn how to come to God to discover, experience and grow in God.
Regardless of which, we are desiring good things and something that could bless us more than we could ever imagine. I do not think things happen just by accident but I believe usually it is God who is causing us to draw near to Him, that will eventually result in us being much blessed.
Blessed is the one whom you choose and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts.
We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple – Psalm 65:4 – WEB version
Let us address the two kinds of prayer. We will briefly address them first and then progress to discover more in depth as the Lord God leads us.
A. Prayer of Asking
Everyone has needs and wants in our lives.
Some have desperate and urgent needs to cry out to God for, while others have desire and wants in our lives.
- Needs
There are many needs in our lives but it depends on the degree of urgency and seriousness of the situation that the earnestness of our prayer may be.
The more intense desire for our prayer to be answered, the more important it may be our desire to know the answers to the questions in our heart, and how we should proceed.
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15 – WEB
Questions that we may want to address :
- What must I do, or say?
- Does God listen to my prayer?
- Delays – Why take so long?
- Why is my prayer not answered?
- Fasting ( and overnight prayer )
- We need help
- Desire / Want
Sometimes we may wonder if it is alright for us to ask God for something that we desire, feeling that we may be selfish or self indulgent. However, generally, we do not find anywhere in the bible that making such a request is not acceptable.
Many times such requests in prayer are made unto God and God answered many of such prayers. In fact, on the contrary, what we can find in the Word of God is that God desires us to ask, and experience that He is prayer answering God, and God who desires to bless us.
However, of course we have to be honest to God, and need to ask for the right thing with the right intention.
While many of the things may already be covered by above, some other questions we may want to address additionally later on.
B. Prayer of Communicating with God
Although usually the meaning of prayer may be asking things or petitioning from God, many times what people really want to know may be about how to approach God. Likely relating to how to worship God, or how to know God rather than about requesting from God something.
In that sense, when asked what prayer is or how to pray, the first thing that comes to my mind is just talking to God. Communicating with God.
Communication is not one way but two ways. It is not only we talk to God but we need to know God speaks to us, and we can hear God.
Prayer of Communicating involves :
- Friend to friend
- Honesty
- Giving thanks
- Worship
- Waiting on God
- Hearing God