Different Types of Prayer

There are different types of prayer in the Bible. Not all prayers are the same so it is important to understand the different types of prayers.

Different Types of Prayers

Prayer is communication with God, that is, the God of the Bible. God communicates with us through His word and we communicate with God through prayer.

And the majesty of prayer is that God hears us. He hears us because He is always present. In theological terms we call this the omnipresent of God.

God is the only One who is always present. That’s why when I pray and you pray, God hears us both.

However, not all prayers are the same. There are different types of prayer. Following are brief descriptions of several major types of prayer.

1. Adoration

Adoration is prayer that adores the attributes of God - His majesty, His mercy and grace, His love, His glory and power, etc. etc. In short, adoration is prayer that praises God for who He is and what He has done for us.

2. Confession

Confession is simply acknowledging our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (NKJV 1 John 1:9).

There is an old Scottish proverb that says: Open confession is good for the soul. In other words, something happens when we openly confess our sins. There is freshness to our life, freshness to our worship and freshness to our walk with God.

3. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is simply appreciating the goodness of God. Let's face it, there is much to appreciate. God has given us so much and of course His greatest gift is His Son - Jesus Christ.

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (NKJV 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

4. Supplication

Supplication is simply asking God for something. "Be anzious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God" (Philippians 4:6).

We are most familiar with prayers of supplication. Sometimes, we tend to focus too much on supplication and not enough on adoration, confession and thanksgiving.

5. Intercession

Intercession is a form of supplication whereby you ask God for something in relation to someone else. In other words, you are asking God for something on behalf of someone else.

Many churches have prayer chains whereby these prayer warriors pray on behalf of others.

6. Examination

Examination is simply asking God to search the heart for sin. We often justify sin rather than confess it. "Search me. O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

7. Relinquishment

Relinquishment is simply giving over to God our desires and our ambitions so that God's will can be done in our lives. “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

8. Rest

Rest involves giving burdens to God that we were never meant to carry. This is not easy to do but when we do, God brings rest to our weary souls.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

For more on prayer, click on sermons on prayer.