Four Kinds of Prayer

In Psalm 42:8, the psalmist declares, “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” This beautiful verse reminds us that prayer is not just a ritual—it’s a lifeline to our Heavenly Father. As God’s children, we are blessed with the privilege of addressing the Almighty Creator personally, calling Him “our Father.” The Bible describes several types of prayer, often remembered using the acronym ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Whether we include one or all of these in a single prayer, they are the pillars of a meaningful and faithful prayer life.

Adoration
Prayer begins with worship. It is our way of acknowledging the greatness, majesty, and holiness of God. Jesus Himself taught us to begin our prayers with adoration: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). King David, in 1 Chronicles 29:10–13, praised God with heartfelt words that lifted God’s name on high. Solomon did the same in 2 Chronicles 6:14, exalting God’s unique place in heaven and on earth. The voices of heaven echo this attitude in Revelation 19:5–7, calling on all God’s servants to “praise our God” and “give Him glory.” When we pray with adoration, we are aligning our hearts with God’s glory and placing Him above all things in reverence and awe.

Confession
Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1–2), and confession brings us back into fellowship with Him. Jesus taught us to say, “Forgive us our sins” (Luke 11:4), making confession an essential part of every believer’s prayer life. Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows the need for humility and repentance: “If My people… will humble themselves… and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven.” Daniel’s powerful prayer in Daniel 9:4–19 demonstrates national and personal confession, acknowledging wrongdoing openly before God. Likewise, the apostle John reminds us that confession must be ongoing. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:8–9). Confession is the door through which mercy flows into the penitent heart.

Thanksgiving
God is good—and thankfulness is the natural response to His generosity. Psalm 100:4–5 invites us to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving… For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting.” We are called to thank God not just for physical blessings, but also for hearing our prayers (Psalm 118:21), for other faithful Christians (Ephesians 1:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3), and for every good thing He gives (1 Timothy 4:4–5). Gratitude acknowledges our dependence on God and reminds us that every blessing comes from His hand. A thankful heart is a joyful heart, and God is pleased when His children express their gratitude.

Supplication
Supplication is our earnest, humble request before God. Philippians 4:6 urges us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication… let your requests be made known to God.” Jesus reassures us in Matthew 7:11 that God delights to give good gifts to His children who ask. Supplication isn’t just for ourselves—it’s also intercessory. Abraham’s servant prayed for guidance in finding a wife for Isaac in Genesis 24:12–14, showing that God honors thoughtful, sincere petitions. Daniel’s words in Daniel 9:16–18 show deep humility: “We do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.” True supplication recognizes God as the ultimate source of help, wisdom, and provision.

Conclusion
The apostle John writes in 1 John 3:21–22, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” What a powerful reminder of the blessings that come through prayer! Whether we are adoring God, confessing sins, giving thanks, or pleading in supplication, each form of prayer draws us closer to the heart of our Father. Let us approach Him with reverence, humility, gratitude, and confidence—knowing that He hears, He cares, and He responds according to His perfect will.

 

 

  Four Kinds of Prayer Outline:

Introduction:

Read Psalm 42:8.  “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the Night His song shall be with me – A prayer to the God of my life.”  What a beautiful as well as comforting verse as it reads in the Modern English Version.  Praying to the God of my life!  Prayer is such a tremendous privilege for the child of God.  We have this blessing of addressing God as our Heavenly Father.  The Bible describes several types of prayers which are often categorized using the acronym ACTS.  A person may use one or all in a single prayer.

Body:

I.  Adoration

·  Less we forget, prayer is as avenue of worship by which we approach Jehovah God.  Therefore showing adoration for Him and praising His name is a vital duty in our prayers.  Note the following examples:

o  Matthew 6:9  “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

o  I Chronicles 29:10-13  “. . . Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. . . Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”  NKJV  David used words that show adoration to Jehovah.

o  II Chronicles 6:14  This thought is from Solomon.  “and he said:  Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.”

o  Revelation 19:5-7a  “ . . .Praise our God . . . Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory,”

II.  Confession

·  Sins separate us from God.  (Isaiah 59:1-2)  Therefore we are called to remove those sins through confession.  Jesus taught His disciples, “Forgive us our sins. . .”  (Luke 11:4)

·  Confession of wrongs has been necessary from the beginning.  (II Chronicles 7:14-15)  Solomon prayed, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

·  Note Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:4-19.  “. . .we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled . . .”

·  One must continue to confess on a daily basis.  (I John 1:8-9)

III.  Thanksgiving

·  Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude to God for His many blessings.  (Psalm 100:4-5)  “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,  And into His courts with praise, Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”

·  We should thank God for hearing us.  (Psalm 118:21)  “I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.”

·  We should thank God for faithful Christians.  (Ephesians 1:15-16)  “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”  (I Thessalonians 1:2-3)  “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. . .”

·  We should thank God for all that is good.  (I Timothy 4:4-5)

IV.  Supplication

·  Our heavenly Father wants us to bring our requests to Him.  (Philippians 4:6)  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”  (Matthew 7:11)  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

·  We should pray for the needs and concerns of others.  Note the prayer of Abraham’s servant.  (Genesis 24:12-14)  “Then he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.  . . . let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.  And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

·  Read Daniel’s petition to the Lord.  (Daniel 9:16-18)  “. . .we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.”

Conclusion:

Read I John 3:21-22.  “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”  What an inspiring and comforting verse!

Bobby Stafford 

December 28, 2014