Kinds of Prayers

A rose is a rose is a rose, they say. And, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. But is a prayer just a prayer?

First of all, when you pray, you are talking to the one and only true and living God, the Creator of the universe. I am no more worthy to enter His presence that a roach is worthy to ask me to listen. I just am not worthy to talk to the Supreme Being. However, He has made it so that I can talk to Him through the medium of prayer. BUT…Are all prayers alike? In a word…NO! There are definitely different kinds of prayers.

The opening of Thy Words giveth light; It giveth understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130) While it is pointless to quote Scripture to God, since He wrote It, is a sometimes a good thing to read Scripture before you pray, and allow what you have read to influence your prayer. For example, if you read Psalm 23, you may be prompted to thank God for quietude, rest, and the bounty of His gifts.
with all prayer and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplications for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18) There are certainly times when life seems dark and dreary. It is at those times when we go to God to pray for His intercession in our lives or in the lives of those we love. We can approach the throne of God and ask for the health of a loved one, both physical and spiritual, or for our own. We can pray that God will intercede in our lives and help us with problems that are too great for us to handle on our own.
And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered; and He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the in the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27) I don’t know about you, but I find this verse to be a great comfort at times. There have been incidents in my life where I have said to the Spirit, “I don’t know how to pray about this. I don’t know the words. Please take what is in my heart and take it to my Father in Heaven.” It is a great comfort to know that the Spirit can do this, and that He will do it if we ask Him to. And the Lord God will hear our heartbroken, confused plea.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. (Acts 20:36) Our prayers to God are a sacred thing. However, God loves us, and we are His children . Have you ever just had a quiet talk with your earthly father? God desires that kind of talk with us, too. Take time to tell Him how beautiful His sunset is, and how seeing His handiwork has made you happy. Share with Him your pleasure of a crisp fall day. Tell Him how perfect that fresh crisp apple or that juicy peach tasted to you. Let God know how you enjoyed the smell of rain. There are many simple pleasures that God give to you; don’t ever hesitate to share with Him how you enjoy them.

Both Romans 12:12 and I Thessalonians 5:17 teach us that God wants us to pray constantly. That does not mean that our days are to be filled with nothing but prayer, for that would mean that we had to neglect other commands. However, it does mean that we should always be ready to pray, that we must always be ready to talk to God, to tell Him what is on our minds and on our hearts. We must never engage in activities that would prohibit us from being able to approach God in prayer.

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts of God. Just think…I, who am so unworthy, can approach the Greatness of my Father in Heaven, and talk to Him whenever I feel the desire or the need. Isn’t that a wonderful gift?

What sy ye?