As Christians, we have been given the great privilege to approach God directly with our petitions and prayers. Prayer seems simple; just talking to God. There are times, though, when prayer can seem daunting, especially when there is a call for longer ones. What do we say when we ‘run out of words’?
There are, in fact, many aspects to prayer. In this time when the churches in Malaysia are united in prayer, it is perhaps fitting that we consider the many aspects of prayer beyond ‘just’ viewing it as ‘talking to God’.
In Dick Eastman’s book, The Hour that Changes the World, he gave 12 different aspects of prayer. In this sharing, I will present 6 of them. May they edify the Body of Christ in this nation.
1. Praise and Worship – An Act of Adoration and Consecration to God.
Psalm 115:1
115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Dick Eastman reminds us to worship God for whom He is for He is our Creator. Give thanks for His unfailing Word, for our salvation, that we are included in His plan. One aspect of prayer is to elevate and honor God, and acknowledge and magnify Him with our words, our whole being and with our prayer position.
There are so many things to praise His name for; His Righteousness, Love, Omnipotence, Greatness, Faithfulness, Omniscience, His Word, His Creation, His Redemptive Work, etc.. Dick Eastman’s suggestion is to enlarge and meditate on this theme, so that we may consider what the practical implications may be for our lives and the lives around us.
2. Wait On The Lord – An Act of Surrender to and Love and Admiration For God.
Psalm 46:11
Be still and know that I am God
Not every aspect of prayer involves verbal communication. Very often there are moments of quietness, where we are silent before God and where we close the door in the spirit to any influence from the world. By doing this, we come through an act of faith into His presence so that we may be able to focus on God and dedicate ourselves again to God.
This is a time of deep personal and intimate communication with God, where we as finite beings get to rejoice in His presence and about His presence. The process of waiting upon the Lord cannot be rushed, and we do not have to put thoughts that come up into Words. Just concentrate on our relationship with God and enjoy being in His presence.
3. Confession – An Act of Confession and Cleansing of Ourselves as the Temple of God
1 John 1:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As the temple of God, it is extremely important that we live pure and holy lives before the Lord. The process of confession opens the way for us to approach God freely. Confession is where we acknowledge our sins, repent and turn away from them, and accept God’s forgiveness. It is a time of introspection and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sins.
During confession, we do not necessarily ask that God change our circumstances, but rather that He will forgive and help us to live new lives. We only receive forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ’s death of atonement on the cross.
4. Scripture Praying – An act of feeding ourselves spiritually and praying according to God’s agenda and revelation.
Scripture Praying is prayer enriched by the Word; where the Word is our manual on how to pray. We can pray according to God’s promises which have an effective way of enhancing our faith. As Christians, the Bible is the ultimate source of values and life principles that must be trusted and obeyed. As we read the Bible, ask the Lord how to apply it to our daily life and in our prayer time.
5. Watching – A Time of Spiritual Observation
Colossians 4:2
Devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Watching is a time of spiritual observation; to watch spiritually is to be spiritually mindful of issues that need prayer. Watching help us to be aware of possible attacks from Satan. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the plans, methods, strongholds and strategies of the Evil one. Be aware of any guidance or revelation that may come from the Lord.
Ask for insight, discernment, and wisdom to understand what we should focus on in prayer, and what should be our priorities, so that we may understand the will of God and where He wants to use us today. Seek the Lord for His agenda and His heart so that we may discern the ripples from the newspapers, TV or radio, and what God wants us to pray about it.
6. Intercession – Standing in the Gap for Other People, Concentrating on Their Needs.
1 Timothy 2:1-2New King James Version (NKJV)
Pray for All Men
2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
Our faith is not an isolative one; it consists of a relationship expressed in the Fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood and sisterhood of His children. As such, it is God’s plan for us that we pray for each other. Intercession is where we stand before God and for other people, praying for God’s hand to be upon their needs. It is a spiritual position before God, and His way of involving His children in His plan for the world as one.
When we intercede for others, we stand on God’s side and work with Him for the salvation and advantage of others. Sometimes, spiritual battles may occur. Jesus conquered the evil one on the cross. As Christians, we have authority through Him. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to us through the Holy Spirit where these powers are at work, and through our authority in Christ, bind these strongholds in His Name.
There are six additional aspects of prayer in Dick Eastman’s book, each of them helpful in guiding Christians towards effective and powerful prayer.
NOTE: This article is guided throughout by principles given by Dick Eastman in his book, The Hour that Changes the World, copyright 2002.
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