The Five Parts of Prayer

I Timothy 2:1 - "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."

Do your prayers ever go unanswered? Are you ever left wondering why? Did you ever stop to think that maybe prayers should be more than a yes, no, or wait a while? Perhaps your prayer isn't pleasing to God. You see, we were made for "Him" so our prayers should be for "Him."

Christ displayed this more than anyone. Before every major event in His ministry he stayed in prayer; the baptism, before He selected His disciples, the transfiguration, and Gethsemane.

Maybe we are leaving something out of our prayers that God deems important. Read closely to the five parts of prayer, it could be that you are leaving one of them out.

1. Adoration-the act of worship, profound love or regard. This is number one. Above all things, adoration should be practiced in our prayers. God wants to be loved just as the rest of us. The Lord will look at the heart, he won't have to hear our words. Words are nothing if they don't come from the heart. Adoration will help you get in that heart felt praying zone that makes prayer time amazing.

2. Supplication-to ask humbly by praying. This is why Jesus taught not to pray as hypocrites in the synagogues, and not to use vain repetitions. We are to pray humbly, and not praying to be seen. Prayer should be an intimate relationship between you and God.

3. Thanksgiving-Expression of gratitude. In Philippians Paul taught us to worry about nothing, pray about anything, and be thankful for all things. I feel that it is very important to be thankful of all the good blessings that God has granted us.

4. Intercession-petition of another. Jesus prayed for us in John 17:14-21. So we should take our savior's lead and pray for one another. It is important to lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer, building a wall of prayer can be vital to defeating the enemy.

5. Confession-the act of confessing. God forgives us over and over. Of course, we are to try to overcome the stumbling blocks, but God will continue to forgive us. Why? Because he is God.

So in prayer, just like all things, we should place God first and foremost, then comes others, and finally ourselves. Pray in this order and God will reward you.