“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…”
Luke 18:1
Prayer is a powerful tool in the kingdom of God. However, just like any tool, you must know how to use it properly. You would not use a wrench to put nails in a wall, nor would you use a hammer to attempt to loosen a bolt. The same is true with prayer. Many people don’t realize that there are different types of prayers for each situation. Like tools in a workman’s toolbox, prayers are specific and need to be used in the appropriate way.
Prayer is a specific covenant transaction that is necessary for obtaining what you need from your Heavenly bank account. When someone enters a bank to withdraw their money, they need to follow proper procedures. If they try to avoid doing the procedures, they will not be able to get their money, even though it is in their account. They must follow the rules the bank has set in place to receive their money. The same is true with our Heavenly bank account. The scripture tells us that we have riches in heaven, stored up for us. (see Ephesians 1:17-23 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14) However, in order to access these blessings, we need to follow the correct procedures and use the right tools in the tool box.
In general, there are four different main types of prayer:
- Prayer of petition/the prayer of faith
- Prayer of agreement
- Prayer of intercession
- Prayer of thanksgiving and praise
The prayer of petition is when you are requesting something from God. You have a need or desire and are bringing your specific request to God. To utilize this prayer, you must first know what is in your Heavenly bank account stored up for you. If you go to a Vegan restaurant and order a pork chop, you will not be served that item. It is not on the menu. To fulfill that request you would need to go to a restaurant that serves pork chops. The same is true with God. If you ask for something that is outside of the boundaries of God’s will, then you will not receive it. You must go to the menu (the Bible) and locate the item that would like. You then can make your request based on knowing it is available for you. For instance, if you are single and want to be married, you can clearly see in the scriptures that marriage is created by God and a blessing. Proverbs 18:22 says; “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” This is an item listed in the menu (the bible) and certainly you have every right to not only request it, but to know with confidence God will provide this because it is in your heavenly bank account. However, if you see a woman who is married and you want that woman as your wife, then of course that is not on the menu. God does not bless sin. Therefore, He would not fulfill that request.
In addition, you must believe that you will receive when you pray. As Jesus says in Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and you shall have them.” Therefore, for prayer to be effective, we must actually believe that what we pray shall surely come to pass. We need to believe it before we see it. In the kingdom of God seeing is not believing. It is the other way around. Believing is seeing. You believe it and then you will see it come to pass. Finally to make the transaction complete, you must pray in the name of Jesus. No other name under heaven or earth can access that heavenly account, because it’s in Jesus’ name. (See John 16:24)
2.) Once you pray and believe you receive, then you need to continue in the prayer of Thanksgiving and praise. You continue to thank God that it is done and praise Him for His faithfulness. Every time the enemy tries to make you think it’s not coming to pass because it seems like it’s taking to long, then just enter into that prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Remind yourself of what God has done for you already and what He is about to do on your behalf. This is how we receive from that Heavenly bank account. When you go to the bank, fill out the proper paperwork and the teller is in the process of retrieving your money, you wait patiently. You do not begin banging on the counter telling her to hurry up, or cry and beg her to please give you the money. Instead, you wait patiently for her to retrieve it and often thank her for getting it. You know she is in the process of completing the transaction, so there is no need to fuss. The same is true with your Heavenly bank account. Once you’ve made your request, then you thank the Lord and wait patiently as the request is being fulfilled, being fully confident that it is surely coming to pass.
3.) Another type of prayer in the toolbox is the prayer of agreement. In Mathew 18:19, Jesus says: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” There is power in agreement. Again, in order to use this prayer effectively you need to know what you want, what the bible says is already yours, and then you must believe it’s done once you pray. From that point on, it’s time to enter into the prayer of thanksgiving and praise until you see the manifestation of your request.
4.) Finally, another very effective type of prayer, is the prayer of intercession. This is when we pray for others. The scriptures say that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for all the saints. (see Romans 8:34) Just as Jesus intercedes for us, we can intercede for others. You can take their place and pray as though you are that person. I did this years ago for a co-worker named Darleen. She was so angry towards Christians and wanted nothing to do with God. However, one day I began weeping and praying in the spirit as if I was lost. I felt as if I was completely cut off from God and was overwhelmed with grief. As I prayed and cried out, the Lord revealed to me that I was actually interceding for Darleen. I was in essence, taking her place in prayer, praying out her salvation. The next day when I saw her, she came running to me in tears, asking to receive Jesus. Praise God, she was born again that day! Yet I had already prayed it through the day before and gotten the victory in this area. Again, when we pray and interceded for others, we always end the prayer time with the prayer of Thanksgiving and praise. We thank God that our requests have been heard and it is done!
All of the above prayers can and should be prayed in both the understanding and the spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. As Paul tells us by the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 14:15: “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.” Start using every tool you have in your prayer toolbox and you will begin accessing all the blessings in your heavenly bank account! You will truly see Heaven on earth in your life!
Further Reading: James 1:1-7, Mark 11:22-26, 2 Chronicles 20, Mathew 18:18-20, John 14, Deuteronomy 28:1-14
