Biblical Prayer Types

[Gina B]

Is there something in existence that defines different types of Christian prayer, or is it a rather loose interpretation when it comes to how prayer can be classified?

What types of prayer would you say exist?

Right now, not knowing if such a thing exists, my list includes
prayers of confession,
prayers of praise,
offeratory/sacrificial prayers (ie rededicating self or offering self up for missions type thing)
supplication prayers (please heal so and so)
communication prayers: those ones where you are doing dishes and just kinda chat.

Is there something more official out there? I know some people differentiate between praying in front of a group of Christians and praying alone, between group prayers (pray together from a prayer book, etc..)

I'm interested in this for my own life and information, as my prayer life is getting tougher to manage and I'm not feeling as close as I have before. I'm trying to figure out how to get back to where I was and then work up from there, and in order to avoid doing so, I've also accepted a writing assignment that deals with types of biblical prayer to help stop myself from coming up with excuses not to look into this more.

Any advice, reading suggestion, online links, and personal experience will help. I used to have no problem praying with others...I would pray in a parking lot with a stranger, go up to people having a hard time, and now I have a hard time with even the most common prayer I did on my own...which was basically just talking throughout my day. It was a habit, just part of life, and now what used to be just part of me is awkward, like the feeling you get when you try to approach a boss who has unpredictable mood swings, so you either just don't or you try and then lose your nerve.

 

[MB]

It seems most forget to say thankyou to the Lord for all the wonders He does. Thanking him for everything brings even more blessings.
MB

 

[Tom Butler]

Don't forget the imprecatory prayers.

Such as Psalm 58:6

O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.

 

[Gina B]

Don't forget the imprecatory prayers.

Such as Psalm 58:6

O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.

I guess those would fall under the supplication prayer.

I had a pastor who used that once on someone, but told us he took it back before sundown.

 

[canadyjd]

...What types of prayer would you say exist?

Right now, not knowing if such a thing exists, my list includes
prayers of confession,
prayers of praise,
offeratory/sacrificial prayers (ie rededicating self or offering self up for missions type thing)
supplication prayers (please heal so and so)
communication prayers: those ones where you are doing dishes and just kinda chat......

Very interesting. That is a good list.

Prayers of:

1. confession 2. praise 3. offeratory/sacrificial 4. supplication (I would say intercessary prayers) 5. communication (spontaneous?)

pretty good list. Everything I can think of would fall into one of these categories.

peace to youraying:

 

[Tom Butler]

I guess those would fall under the supplication prayer.

I had a pastor who used that once on someone, but told us he took it back before sundown.

I don't think supplication quite fits. The definition of imprecatory is a call for God to judge, harm or otherwise bring evil upon some one. There are a number of Psalms specifically described as imprecatory. They contain curses or prayers for the punishment of the Psalmist's enemies.

Some folks are uncomfortable with those passages, because they see them as inconsistent with New Testament teaching. You know, love your enemies, do good to those who hurt you, etc.

But Paul was not the least bit uneasy. In Romans 11:9-10, Paul quotes David from Psalm 69: 22-23:
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,and bend their backs forever.”

Paul is writing about the blinding of the Jews. In verse 8, Paul says God did the blinding and making them deaf. But that's another thread.