I was just thinking about how many people ask for prayer and so many on social media will hit a like or comment with “praying.” Sadly, I have been guilty of such. However, prayer is our greatest privilege now that we belong to Christ. We have an audience with the Creator and Sustainer of Life. We can speak to the Master — requesting, pleading, interceding. But when we pray, we ought always to pray specifically. Yet, there are times when we don’t know what those specifics are. God has given us a Helper in times like that.
Various Kinds of Prayers
The apostle Paul knew the importance of prayer. He also knew it was important to impart to his protégé, Timothy, the need to pray in various ways. He wrote, “I urge, then… that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and please God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:1-4 NIV1984).
Requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving are indicative of specific ways we ought to pray. The word “prayers” refers to worship. There are times we need to just stop, put away the things that hinder us and prayerfully worship the Lord. I am reminded of the lyrics of a song that said, “I didn’t come here to ask you for anything; I just came to talk with you, Lord.” I believe that is so important to our spiritual well-being. I love it when our children and grandchildren come and we just talk. They don’t ask for anything, they just visit, and Karen and I love that. Our heavenly Father likes us to just visit and worship Him for Who He is.
And Then There are Requests
King David was famous for requesting from God His blessings and provisions. He faced times of frustration and even times of peril. It was during those times that the king knew to make his requests known to his Lord. “In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me” (Psalm 71:1-2).
Notice, David didn’t pray for things when he made his requests. But he did pray specifically. He knew what he needed, and he knew who could provide it.
Too often, we believers are in the “I want” mode instead of the “I need” mode. Our requests are often knee-jerk responses, stirred by what we see others have. Those are based on wants. But David said that the Lord was his Shepherd, and He was all the king needed. God knows our needs before we ask, but He does want us to ask specifically when we pray.
Then There is Intercession
To intercede is to speak on behalf of another. Back to social media, the requests most see are those asking for intercession. Yes, some are possibly frivolous. But others are of extreme importance. We should not take such requests lightly. When fellow church members ask us to pray for them or their loved ones, we ought to pray specifically for their needs. Wouldn’t we want them to intercede for us when we need them?
And Then There is Thanksgiving
God answers prayer! How remiss we are when we don’t come to Him with thanksgiving in our hearts because he has heard our cries, our requests, our intercessions. When we give thanks, God is praised, and He alone deserves that praise.
