What types of prayer are mentioned in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Old and New Testaments contain six specific types of prayer. First, there is thanksgiving, in which we thank God for something He has granted us or for who He is (Daniel 2:23). Thanksgiving should accompany our prayer requests (Philippians 4:6). Second are prayers that worship God, which are often in a poetic context (Psalm 95:6–7), but they certainly do not have to be (Acts 13:2–3). Next is intercessory prayer, which is a prayer on behalf of others, such as when Moses prayed on behalf of the Israelites (Exodus 32:11–14) or when Jesus prayed on behalf of His followers (John 17). We should be making intercessory prayers for “all people,” and that includes ourselves (1 Timothy 2:1). Another type of prayer in Scripture is the prayer of faith, which often accompanies a request for a miracle (1 Kings 17:20–22) or for someone ill to be made well (James 5:15). A common prayer in churches is corporate prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42), prayer in which a group of individuals pray together for the same thing (Ezra 8:21–23). Lastly, there is the prayer of consecration. Consecration prayers can involve dedicating something or someone, including ourselves, to God (1 Samuel 1:11; Matthew 26:39).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Thanksgiving: In Daniel 2:23, the prophet Daniel thanks God for the “wisdom and might” He had given him to be able to discern the King’s dream.
• Worship: In Psalm 95:6–7, King David worships God poetically, acknowledging Him as Creator and comparing Him to a shepherd and His people as His flock.
• Intercessory: In Exodus 32:11–14, Moses, the leader of Israel at the time, intercedes with the Lord on behalf of the people because they had committed idolatry.
• Faith: In 1 Kings 17:20–22, the prophet Elijah prays that God will heal the dead son of the widow who had been hospitable to him on his journey. Amazingly, God allows the child to be brought back to life.
• Corporate: Ezra 8:21–23 records Ezra proclaiming a fast for the Jews coming back from Jerusalem with him, during which they implored God for “a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”
• Consecration: In 1 Samuel 1:11, Hannah tells the Lord that if she is granted the ability to have a son, she will dedicate him to the Lord’s service all the days of his life. God grants Hannah’s request, and she honors her word by giving Samuel to the high priest to raise to serve God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Thanksgiving: Philippians 4:6 notes, "with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." As we make requests, we should remember to express thanks to God for what He has already given us and-especially for who He is to us.
• Worship: Acts 13:2–3 presents prayer, worship, and fasting in the same context, leading to the powerful calling of Saul (Paul) and Barnabas, beginning their mission work: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."
• Intercession: In John 17, Jesus prayed a prayer of intercession on behalf of His disciples and all believers. In intercessory prayers, we can ask God for needs regarding our own life or the lives of others (1 Timothy 2:1).
• Faith: James 5:15 states, "And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up." Prayers of faith are given for healing. This does not negate the important role of medical professionals, but it encourages believers to turn to God for help during times of physical need.
• Corporate: In the early church, "all joined together constantly in prayer" (Acts 1:14 [NIV]). While praying alone is an important part of Christian growth, praying together serves a unique role that combines the power of prayer with a community of believers.
• Consecration: Jesus is our example of absolute self-consecration. On the night before His death, He prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Rather than a single type of prayer, or even a list of specific prayers, the Bible presents a variety of ways people pray to God. Because prayer is talking with God, it can occur at any time and place, involve a variety of forms, continue as a conversation with God throughout the day, and can include times of public prayer among believers. These and other types of prayer all acknowledge our complete dependence upon the Lord's help for our daily needs.

If we need a more specific model of prayer to start out with, the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 is what Jesus gave us as a biblical model for daily prayer: “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”

Ultimately, regardless of how we pray, we know that God hears us and cares for us, no matter what His response to our prayers may be.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible presents many different kinds of prayers, including thanksgiving, worship, intercessory, faith, corporate, and consecration.
• Prayer helps us acknowledge our complete dependence on God.
• Prayer can be done privately or within the community of believers.

REFLECT

• Which type of prayer—thanksgiving, worship, intercession, faith, corporate, or consecration—do you most often use, and why?
• How has prayer enabled you to grow spiritually?
• When you pray with others, how does it shape your understanding of God’s power and presence?

ENGAGE

• How can praying different types of prayer deepen our personal and communal relationship with God?
• How might intercessory or corporate prayer impact your community or church body?
• What are some connections between private prayers and public or corporate prayer, and how could they impact our witness to the world?