Christian Prayer - Part 1

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests . . . [Eph 6:18].

The first definition of prayer provided by dictionary.com is "a devout petition to God or an object of worship." In my case the petition is to God. That's GOD in all caps-the Alpha and Omega God of Moses and the Old Testament. I know that immediately eliminates some potential readers. Christian prayer goes one step farther, though. Christians believe in prayer to GOD that is in and through Jesus Christ.

That said, the definition I opened with is certainly accurate, although it does fall short of encompassing all that prayer is and all that it can accomplish. Petitioning God is only the beginning of prayer. Prayer is really communicating with God to offer praise, to make a request, or simply to express one's thoughts and emotions. Prayer also involves listening too, as in any other conversation.

There are many ways to pray and many reasons for prayer. Some prayers, especially those intended as communal prayers, are fairly formal and structured. Private, individual prayers run the gamut from repetition of simple, memorized prayers to having a casual conversation with God as we would a friend.

It's so easy to get caught up in how to pray, what to pray for and how often to pray! Over the years I have felt very inadequate, because some individuals in my church and in other settings have prayed such powerful prayers. Their words were stirring and seemed to be the perfect thing to say in the situation. It wasn't until I realized that their words were inspired by the Spirit that I began to lose some of my own self-consciousness. Once we let go of ourselves, and allow God to be the focus rather than our own words, "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. And He 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]

The important thing is that we pray, and God makes that very clear. In 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 God tells Solomon, "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

In an earlier article I presented a formula for prayer that many have found valuable in learning to pray, and structuring their prayers. The A.C.T.S. model for prayer includes four types of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. These four parts of the model reveal the most common types of prayer. While this model is generally adequate and is certainly always suitable, there may be situations in which specific types of prayer might be considered appropriate or necessary.

Intercessory prayer is one type of prayer that is encouraged very strongly within my church. To intercede for someone means to stand in the gap between that person and God or to pray on behalf of another. Jesus is, of course, the "Great Intercessor." Christians believe that because of Christ and his life and resurrection, we are granted a direct line to God. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us [Romans 8:34].

Healing Prayer is a type of Intercessory Prayer, but with a very specific purpose. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him." [James 5:14-15]

Contemplative Prayer, often called Centering Prayer, is a type of prayer with a goal of transcending thoughts, emotions and words, resting in silence in God's presence. In other words, Contemplative Prayer is a prayer of silence. Contemplative Prayer was the goal of Christian spirituality for the first sixteen hundred years of Christianity.

Henri Nouwen observed: "Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; He's always doing something. Prayer is to enter into that activity." Future articles will explore Intercessory Prayer, Healing Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Prayer of the Faithful and other types and models of prayer in detail. Until then, I urge you to simply pray.