All Christians engage in prayer in some manner. Some report experiencing results when they pray, while others do not.
There are seven distinct types of prayer that when accompanied by faith God always answer.
1. Prayer for Divine wisdom.
The Bible says in 1 Kings 3:1-15,
“That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Solomon answered God,
“You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
God said to Solomon,
“Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessionsand honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
One such example is the prayer for divine wisdom, as demonstrated by King Solomon who, in his prayer to Jehovah God, chose to request wisdom instead of wealth, fame, or longevity during a time of prayer.
God was so delighted by Solomon’s request. Why? Because wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 12:1-7. Wisdom is also one of the seven-fold ministries of the Holy Spirit, according to Isaiah 11:2-3. The request of Solomon was in alignment with the will of God.
In James 1:5-6, we read,
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed”.
The Lord will not say no to a prayer request that He has declared he will grant in His Holy Scriptures unto His followers when asked in faith.
2. Prayer of repentance.
The Bible says in 1 John 2:1-2,
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”.
God desires that His children walk in righteousness and lead holy lives. However, due to our frailty and weaknesses in the flesh, we often stumble and fail to maintain holiness in our conduct and character.
Therefore, God has assured us that when we fall short and sin, we should pray, confess our sins to Him, and turn away from our wicked ways. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. A prayer of repentance will never go unanswered; God will always respond to such prayers.
Both Judas and Peter committed the same sin: they denied Jesus (Mark 14:44-46 and John 18:13-27). However, Peter repented with tears before God, and as a result, God reinstated him. In contrast, Judas did not seek repentance; instead, he took his own life.
The Bible teaches us in 1 John 2:2 that Jesus Christ serves as the propitiation for our sins—not only for ours, but for the sins of the entire world. The term “propitiation” refers to making amends or reparations for an offense or wrongdoing. According to Mark 2:10, Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.
Regardless of the sins you have committed, the Lord is always ready to forgive you if you turn to Him and truthfully confess to Him in prayer.
3. Asking God for the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 11:13, Jesus said,
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him”
The Holy Spirit is a divine gift bestowed upon each believer by God. It serves as a guarantee of being sealed and belonging to Him.
The Bible say in Ephesians 1:13,
“And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”.
The Holy Spirit can also be imparted through prayer and the laying on of hands a method through which God bestows His Spirit upon individuals by the touch of a believer who is imbued with the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says in Acts 8:17,
“Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”.
The Holy Spirit is tasked with the responsibility of revealing a deeper understanding of Christ to Christians. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes more comprehensible, providing a clearer revelation of Christ’s identity. In the absence of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual veil will obscure the mind of those seeking Christ in the scriptures.
4. Salvation & Re-dedication Prayer.
The Bible says in Titus 2:11,
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people, teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”.
The ultimate inheritance one can receive after their earthly life is eternal life, spent in the presence of Christ in heaven.
Jesus made a profound statement in Mark 8:36.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but loses his soul?”
Asking the Lord to come into your heart through prayer is a request that will unfailingly receive a response from God.
Should one stray from their relationship with Christ after committing their life to Him, God promises to welcome them back with open arms upon their return.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 3:14,
‘Return to me O Backslider,’ declares the Lord”.
A backslider is a devout follower of Christ whose inherent sinful nature leads them astray. Reassurance is offered by God to those seeking forgiveness and redemption upon their return to Him.
A prayer of re-commitment, when earnestly expressed, will always be acknowledged and fulfilled by God.
5. Give me strength to obey you.
The Bible says in Exodus 19:5,
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine”.
A Christian cannot obey God in their own strength, that’s why God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us live a holy life. Without the Holy Spirit, you will fail in your attempt to live Holy.
Paul said in Romans 7:18,
“I know that nothing good lives in me”. In other words, if you attempt to live Godly through your inner strength, without having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you will fail tremendously“.
Apostle Paul was able to walk in obedience to God because he was full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit infuses the believer with His divine strength enabling him to obey the precepts and the principles of the word of God. When you pray and ask God to give you strength to obey His word, He will answer you. In 1 Samuel 15: 22, God said to king Saul,
“Obedience is better than sacrifice”
Many Christians have replaced obedience to God’s Word with mere acts of sacrifice. They engage in sinful behavior throughout the week and attempt to compensate by attending church services and making significant financial contributions, hoping to atone for their transgressions.
God cannot be bribed. To obey God, one needs spiritual strength and when you ask God to empower you to walk in obedience in His Word, rest assured that He will answer you.
One of the ways God reveals Himself to people is through His Holy Scriptures. When you pray and ask God to help you understand the Holy Scriptures, He will answer your prayer.
6. Praying for God to reveal Himself more to you.
One of the ways God reveals Himself to people is through His Holy Scriptures. When you pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you, He will answer your prayer. The Bible says in Psalm 17:6,
“Reveal yourself to us, O God. I have called upon You, for You will hear me”.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:13,
“You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart”.
Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7).
When you pray and ask the Lord to fill you with His presence and to help you know Him more, He will grant you your request. The greatest pleasure of God is to be pursued to know more of Him.
7. Lord let your will be done in my life.
The will of God is very much different from your own will.
In Luke 22:42, Jesus uttered a very interesting prayer. He said,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
The will of God greatly contrasts with one’s own will, as it signifies a discovery of heavenly possessions versus earthly possessions.
In the will of God, you discover your heavenly possessions and in your own will, you will discover earthly possessions.
By forsaking His own will and adhering to the will of the Heavenly Father, Jesus ascended to the position of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Embracing God’s will over one’s own leads to divine promotion.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”.
The difference between your own will and the will of God can be discovered in Luke 5:1-11. Jesus said to Peter,
“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”.
Peter chose to be a fisherman by his own volition, however, upon encountering the Lord, the divine will was made known to him. Consequently, he transitioned from being a fisherman or businessman to becoming a fishers of men.
Through your own volition, you will identify your occupation, career, job, and aspirations. In alignment with God’s will, you will uncover your vocation, calling, divine assignment, purpose, and divine destiny.
God will reveal His will to you when you earnestly pray and in faith believing. The Lord has the ability to unveil His will to individuals through various means, such as dreams, as seen with Joseph in Genesis 37:5:36, or during moments of reflection in His Word.
Additionally, His will may be revealed through a genuine messenger of God. No matter the method by which God chooses to reveal His will to you, it is crucial to seek confirmation through prayer and trust in His guidance to unveil the truth.
Author: Pastor Andrew
