Talking With God

Prayer is basically talking with God. It is simply expressing our hearts and spending time with Him. It is not a one way activity, God speaks, we listen, we speak and God listens to our hearts. Prayer can be exciting, powerful and fulfilling.

So what are the different types of prayer we can use? Like many things, it depends on who you ask. Some say there are only two types of prayer – ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ though most of us probably fall somewhere in between those two extremes. Some also confuse the different styles of prayer with the different purposes of prayer.

We don’t believe God is overly concerned with categories. But they do help us when it comes to focus and intention. So, here’s our view of the different types of prayer. Just as God has given us the choice of accepting his gift of eternal life, you are free to agree with us or not.

Prayer can be categorized using the acronym, A.C.T.S. ie.

Adoration & Praise

Putting into words the gratitude that ought to swell up in our hearts whenever we review all that God has done for us. Adoring and praising Him for what He is.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. - Luke 2:14 NIV

..Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come. - Revelations 4:8 NIV

Confession

We cannot enter the presence of God in prayer without confessing our sins. God won’t answer our prayers when there is sin in our lives.

If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even his prayers are detestable. - Proverbs 28:9 NIV

He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. – Proverbs 28:13 NIV

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened; - Psalm 66:18 NIV

Thanksgiving

Giving thanks to God for all things in your life. We are commanded to give thanks in all circumstances. Being thankful is being grateful for his protection, provision, blessing, and most of all for his Son. Thanksgiving is for what God has done.

..always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:20 NIV

pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 NIV

Supplication

We ask God for the specific things we need in our life. Give us our daily bread. Give us the things we need to survive, a roof over our heads, employment etc. Petitions present our needs to our Heavenly Father, in trust that He will provide. Be specific in your petitions, pray in details and not in generalities. Intercessions are Love on its knees in prayer, for others. Pleading on behalf of the needs of someone else. Standing in the gap, that is, praying prayers of repentance, etc., identifying yourself with the sins of those for which you are in prayer.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33 NIV

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for
all men-the testimony given in its proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV