Prayer Is A Lifestyle

         Yes, after 65 years as a Christian I'm learning new things about
prayer. Also, that prayer can become a way of life. Prayer is
both hugely comprehensive and magnificently pervasive. It can take
over our lives. For God's pleasure. For our advantage. When it
does we become uniquely transcendent in witness and work. We are
on the earth; we are above its powers. We are heavenly-minded for
earthly use.
         Prayer is a discipline of many forms. I've had some adventures in
my little odyssey of prayer. May I share some prayer formats with
you? Here are some ways by which I have learned ? and still
learning ? how to 'pray without ceasing' (1 Thess. 5:17). (These
are not presented in any order of preference or priority).

* Connecting Prayer. 'Logging on' to God through Jesus Christ and
the help of the Holy Spirit, John 14:13-14; Acts 4:29-31. He is
the 'password'. In Him we have 'access' (Eph. 2:18) and we are
virus-proofed.

* Communing Prayer. As friend to friend. He scrutinizes and
confides secrets (Dan.2:47). Intimacy imparts certainty. "The
joys we share as we tarry there no other has ever known" 2
Chron. 20:27; Isaiah 41:8; Jas. 2:23.

* Petitioning Prayer. I identify and nominate a specific need.
He listens! He urges me to keep asking! Why? To expand my
appreciation of His greatness over against the need Luke 18:1-8;
Acts 12:5.

* Intercessory Prayer. For a person or social issue. Esther (A
people) John 17:6-18. Intercession identifies God's intentions.
It leads to an urge to merge with God's will in everything.

* Meditative Prayer. Our minds and hearts focus on issues and
matters that are scanned and interpreted by God. We think
through our prayers, Heb. 4:12; Psalm 139:23; 1 Chron. 28:9.
The mind is transformed Rom.12:2.

* Walking & Working Prayer. As we engage in the routine duties
and pleasures of life. Mordecai (Esther); Acts 17:16, 23; Psalm
8; Rev. 1:9-11. (Also, car-driving prayer. Especially for other
drivers and passengers.)

* Bible Prayer. Incorporating the Scriptures into our words
especially God's promises, Acts 4:24-30. Bible promises repel
evil powers.

* Heavenly Language Prayer. Prayer in other (Divinely given)
languages can give a particular strength or thrust to a mentally
framed prayer, 1 Cor. 14:14-15. The mind surrenders to the
Spirit.

* Imaginative Prayer. Go for it! Under the inspiration of the
Spirit let's free our minds to be carried along in God's
creative thoughts, Isa. 55:8-9. (See Ezekiel 1) This may be
described as envisionary prayer, Eph.1:15-23; Col. 1:28-2:5.

* Written Prayer. Writing prayers leads to clarity in speaking
our prayers. Short, focused prayers in your journal or diary.
Refer to Paul's prayers in Ephesians, Philippians and
Colossians.

* Musical Prayer. Many Christians, musically gifted, experience
prayer rapture as they play. Each of us can sing our prayers.
(Psalms of David). We can 'sing in the Spirit', 1 Cor. 14:15.
Go ahead! Compose some song prayers.

* Impromptu Prayer. Spontaneously triggered by an experience,
Jonah 2; Acts 9:19-19; Luke 2:25-35. This can be described as
being 'led by the Spirit'.

* Observational Prayer. Praying as we look at people and events.
(Go into a shopping mall to pray ? NOT consume!) 'Watch' and
pray, ie. The whole social scene; TV news; etc. Mordecai
(Esther); Moses Deut. 34:1-5 (See previous chapters); Neh.1.

* Walking Prayer. In your neighbourhood or city, Neh. 1. Let the
Spirit install in you a spiritual monitor for discerning how you
can pray.

* Network Prayer. Over time develop relationships with
like-minded colleagues in prayer. Set up mail, phone, email and
prayer meeting times, Phil.2:19-30; Col.4:12-13; 1 Thess. 1:1-3.

* World Affairs Prayer. For nations, leaders, international
events, global mission, revival, etc. See: the prophets, Joel
2; Ezek. 25- 32; John 17:20-26; Matt.25. (The press is a mess;
the Bible is reliable).

* Warfare Prayers. One writer has termed this "the gift of
battle". This is the affirmation and enforcement of Jesus'
victory over hostile powers that contest for the lives of
peoples. Acts 4:23-31 (The major New Testament model for group
warfare prayer). Eph. 6:10-18. (The focus is on personal
fitness for warfare). It is also an acknowledgement of God's
engagement with evil-powers in the heavens, Dan. 10.

* Ph.D. Prayer. That is, Pre-Heaven Disciplines. Prepare by
prayer for post-death life; for service in eternity. It's
nearer than we think! 2 Tim. 4:1-8.

* Prophetic Prayer. Speak out God's purposes for world redemption
over nations and peoples and international issues and events,
Acts 2:14-36. Allow the Spirit to load you with a burden for a
people group.

* Transcendent Prayer. "In the Spirit" (Rev. 1:10) and keeping
"in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25) means being lofted above
and beyond mere rational understanding into the dimensions of
revelation. Refer : the prophets.

Each of these 'formats' of prayer are seen as being attainable in
one's own personal, private prayer life. To close I propose three
prayer formats that operate in the public domain. They are:

* Direct/Personalized Prayer. One to one. Praying for another
person. This should be brief and specifically focused, eg. Acts
3:1f. The prayer may contain words of knowledge and wisdom. It
is a "prayer of faith" James 5:13-18.

* Public Prayer. In a Christian or public gathering. The prayer
is representative of all others present. Not personal. Nor an
occasion for oratory (or assumed oratory!). Note the plural
forms in Acts 4:23-31.

* Corporate Prayer. Groups praying together aloud or silently.
See Acts 4:23-31 again. If 500 people pray aloud simultaneously
God can unscramble it! Moreover, corporate prayer can be a
seismic force in routing evil and spirit powers.

The first disciples asked Jesus, "Lord teach us how to pray" (Luke
11:1) Let's become known as prayer activitists. The real dynamic
is not in today's trend to "Christian infotainment". Authentic,
heaven-approved power is in Biblical prayer that leads to biblical
witness.

                             - Paul E. Grant <pauldulcieg@powerup.com.au>