Table of Contents
Introduction
The Discipline of Prayer is the second Inward Discipline. Richard Foster mostly focuses on Prayers of Intercession in his chapter, but I will discuss it as a more general concept.
Back to topTypes of Prayer
A common technique for organizing prayer that was taught to me was based on the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) as a listing of the "Types of prayer" and the order it was suggested to do them. This may have been a good start, but I have found there is much more to it. I prefer to think of the concept of prayer as divided into more categories, but also accept that the borders of the categories are somewhat fluid, and there also exists space between the categories. I will list my divisions below:
Adoration / Worship
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.-- Psalm 34:1-3 ...
Prayers of Adoration or Worship are prayers offered to honor God for who he is. To praise his Holy attributes. While this might not be the type of prayer that most feel the need of giving when we are feeling a need to pray, it is a very important type of prayer to give, as it brings our relationship with God into focus. I find it a good habit to begin most prayer sessions with an introduction of Adoration of God to put me into the right frame of mind for talking to God.
Confession
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD”—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
-- Psalm 32:5
Prayers of Confession are where we open up and admit to God that we are a sinner, acknowledge the sins we have done, repent, commit to resisting the sin, ask God for his forgiveness, and then move on, leaving the sin behind.
We should confess with enough detail that we can feel the pain the sin causes God, and develop a Godly sorrow, as that is what will help lead to repentance.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death -- 2 Corinthians 7:10
While I don't think this should be part of every prayer, I think it is good to do before asking for something for oneself.
Thanksgiving
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -- 1 Thessalonians 16-18
Thanksgiving is an acknowledgment of what God has done for you (or even other people at your request). It is different than Adoration as Adoration is focused on who God is, while Thanksgiving is more about what he has done. I think it is important to include some thanksgiving in any prayer that is asking God to do something.
Supplication
Prayers of Supplication are prayers that put our personal requests before God. God wants us to put our requests before him, but this should not be the focus of our prayers.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -- Phillipians 4:6-7
Guidance
One request for ourselves that we tend to need to put before God more are prayers for his Guidance and Wisdom.
Intercession
A prayer for the needs of others. This it the type of Prayer that Richard Foster focuses on most in the chapter. It is an important
Lament
A prayer of Lament is where we express our grief or sorrow over a situation. These tend to focus on
Faith
Imprecation
A prayer of Imprecation is a prayer asking God to render Judgement on the wicked. This type of prayer needs to be done with caution, as Jesus tells us:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbora and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -- Matthew 5:43-48
so, when we feel the need to pray against someone w see as evil, we need to also be praying that God acts in his love, perhaps leading the "foe" to repentance, which we will gladly accept.
Spiritual Warfare
Similar to Imprecation, but rather than looking at earthly foes, Prayers of Spiritual Warfare are prayers focused on the spiritual realm. Prayers to strengthen the Angels protecting someone/something or restraining the Demons attacking it.
Consecration
A Prayer of Consecration tends to be a "formal" prayer specifically marking something/someone as being dedicated to God. It can also be a prayer where the petitioner is turning themselves over to the hand of God to follow his will.
Praying through the Spirit
Sometimes we just feel we need to pray, but we can't find the words, so we just express what we can and ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. -- Romans 8:26-27
Corporate Prayer
Not so much a different "type" like the others are, but a different form (and can be of most of the types above).
Back to top“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” -- Matthew 18:19-20
Steps to Prayer
Decide
Qualifications
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. -- John 15:7
Foster talks about not using "If it is your will", perhaps a bit excessive. We SHOULD think before asking and make sure we believe that what we are asking for is in God's will. When asking God to do something, it should be something that God has given a promise that he will do this sort of thing.
Thus, I thnk Foster is right, that we shouldn't tack on a lot of "If it is your will" to our prayers, but Pray for God to act in things that we are confident ARE in his will. The spot where I think it is appropriate is when we move from a more generic asking of him to act, to specifying how he is to act in a given circumstance
Consider
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. -- James 4:3
Faith
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” -- Matthew 21:21-22
Imagination
One thing that I find important while praying is to use my imagination to think of ways God could respond. Try to imagine the various ways, perhaps even unexpected, that God could answer the prayer.
Back to topMisconceptions
From the Study Guide
Prayer is to ask God for something
Prayer must be a struggle
The world is fixed, and prayer won't change it
Unanswered Prayers will destroy our Faith
You should only pray once, or it is showing a lack of Faith
Back to topPurpose
Not for God, but for Us, to pray is to change. God doesn't need us to tell him what we need, but wants us to be open and build a relationship with him. In building this relationship, God doesn't change, but we do to come closer to him. As we pray worshipful prayers, we come to understand him better. As we pray confession, we understand ourselves better, and help God to change us to what he wants us to be. As we pray and ask for him to act, since we think about what we are asking, we should come to a better understanding of how God works, and perhaps come to a better understanding of what is going on around us as we see things with eyes more attuned to him.
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