Scripture for the Day Dec 20th 2020: Seven Types of Prayer

When I was a baby Christian, not knowing much about the Bible, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I purchased a little prayer book. It listed, nicely categorized, prayers for every occasion I could think of. What attracted me most about it was that every prayer contained only Scripture. Verses from different parts of the Bible formed a prayer applicable to the situation I wanted to address. I loved that little book because it sorted Scripture by subject for me. By the way, the concordance does that. But I used it out of laziness. Instead of READING the entire Bible, I relied on this prayer book to talk to God, forgetting that prayer is simply communion with God. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that we ought to pray continuously. It doesn't mean we ought to kneel on a prayer mat 24x7 or five times a day as one religion demands. Instead, the LORD wants us to talk to Him continuously throughout the day, to involve Him in our thinking and decision-making process, much like a child would ask daddy to dad's delight. The big bonus? The child would scoop up ample of free knowledge wisdom. This has become second nature to me, and I am grateful to the Holy Spirit for guiding me through the labyrinths of life every second, day, and night.

While prayer, talking to God, is quite a simple matter, there are different types of prayers the serious Christian would want to consider. Let this devotional be your Bible study for the week. Follow the links in BOLD, and reap the blessings of communicating with God.

(1) Prayer of Salvation

This is the most important prayer you will ever speak. It is also the one that God will grant for sure. If you're not right with God, confess Jesus your Lord, and you will be forgiven and saved. The moment you do, Jesus becomes your attorney in Heaven, advocating for you, defending you from satan's accusation. (1 John 2:1)

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

1 Thessalonians 4:14
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Jn 1:12, Rev 3:20

(2) Devotional

To re-affirm our commitment to God, to celebrate the LORD, to thank Him for Who He is, to worship Him. Did you know that calling upon the name of the LORD is worshiping Him? This is the type of prayer I practice when my morning coffee brews, during which I read a Proverb a Day.

Psalms 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Mark 14:32, Mark 14:35-36 

(3) Faith

Without faith, we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6) We do good by strengthening our faith with prayers such as this:

Psalms 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."
9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Mark 11:22-24, 1 John 5:14-15

(4) Agreement

Here, we support others, strengthening them. Iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17)

Matthew 18:19

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:20,1 Corinthians 5:4

(5) Edification

This is the energy bunny of prayers. It builds us up. We are talking directly to the Holy Spirit, often by speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues isn't anything one learns, per se. It's a gift. Some exercise it, some don't. I do, and it is a battery charger of immense potency, feeling elated, empowered, and secure every time I speak in tongues. A deep sense of satisfaction and completion infuses me when I pray in tongues. There is another aspect to it, though. One day, the church I was attending asked the congregation to sign up for a 1 week, 24-hour  prayer drive. My slot was 3-4 am if I recall correctly. After a few minutes or so, I ran out of things to say to God. But in the Spirit, we can utter those things that the Holy Spirit needs in order to activate His Power. There are not many books out there on the subject. If you like to know more, send me a message, and I will point you to them.

Isaiah 28:11-12

11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the LORD will speak to this people,
12 to whom he has said, "This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose"; yet they would not hear.

1 Corinthians 14:21, Mark 16:17

(6) Petition

Ask, and it shall be given to you if your request align's with God's Word. (John 15:7). This is the prayer that is deeply rooted in faith, and the one that gives me peace because I know the LORD has got my six when I ask Him for anything. Without asking, we will not receive, though.

Philippians 4:6

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1 Kings 8:28, Daniel 6:10,

(7) Entreaty

Prayers we speak on behalf of others. The prayer warrior tool. Every time we pray for Donald J Trump, for his administration, or for a neighbor, friend, family member, or stranger, this is the most honorable prayer. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. It's righteous living. (James 2:8)

1 Timothy 2:1

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

Ezra 6:10, 1 Timothy 5:5

In Jesus' name, so be it.
Amen

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #prayer #PrayerSecret #TypeofPrayer #SpiritualWarfare