Petitioning Prayer – it’s Your Attitude that Matters

What Should our Attitude be when Praying?

This is my 4th post on the topic of prayer. I hope you have been enjoying my earlier posts where we discover the precious gems located in Scripture regarding prayer. Likewise, in this post, we will discover the precious gems in Scripture which will reveal the attitude that matters when petitioning Yahweh our Creator for a need or desire we have.

Just in case you missed them, here are the links to the previous articles.

• What’s the Big Deal About Prayer – Post One
• 7 Specific Areas to remember When Praying – Post Two
• Discover the Scriptural Gems of Prayer – Post Three

We have seen in a previously that prayer is similar to having a conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee. Prayer is one of the most intimate ways we can connect to God. However, there are times when we desire the intervention of our Father in a specific area of our lives.

When conversing with our Father God we need to be open and honest about what we are feeling, thinking, etc. Moreover, God has no problem with us even when we are angry. However, beware that you do not tread into the territory of being disrespectful and insolent.

Proseuche – Greek Word for Prayer

In the New Testament, proseuche is the Greek word used most often for “prayer”. According to Pastor Rick Renner, Proseuche is the compound of two words. The first word is pros meaning to draw very near or to be face-to-face. The other word is euche, which means a vow, a wish, or a desire.

Originally, this word was used to depict a person who vowed to give something of great value to God in exchange for a favorable answer to prayer.

A great example of this word proseuche (prayer) is the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1.

Hannah was married to a man named Elkanah, and she had been childless for quite some time. Year after year, she wanted God to give her a child, but she remained barren.

10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you… 1 Samuel 1:10-11

Hannah drew near to God and expressed her wish and a deep desire for a child. With her prayer, she made a vow.

Specific Types of Prayer

The Bible reveals many types of prayers. Depending on how a person categorizes the prayers will dictate the count of the different types of prayers. Moreover, an internet search revealed articles such as:

• The Five Types of Prayer
• Learning to pray: Seven types of prayer
• The 9 Types Of Prayer In The Bible
• 10 Types of Prayers in the Bible – Bible Study Tools

However, most of all the prayers found in the bible will fall in one of the seven categories listed below.

• There are Prayers of:
  1. Supplication – Philippians 4.6, Ephesians 6.18
  2. Intersession – See Jesus’ prayer in John 17
  3. Thanksgiving/Worship – Philippians 4.6, Colossians 4.2, Acts 13.2-3
  4. Agreement/Corporate Prayers – Acts 1.14
  5. Consecration – Matthew 26.39
  6. Faith – James 5.15
  7. Imprecatory – (e.g., Psalms 7, 35, 55, 58, 69). 

Scripture Reveals the Attitude that Matters

What is the attitude that matters to God? Below are some things we need to keep in mind when we approach the throne of God in prayer. By searching the gold mine of Scripture, we see the attitude that matters is:

An alert mind and a thankful heart

• Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. – Colossians 4:2
• I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. – Daniel 9:4

Praying with all our heart is an attitude that matters

• I pray with all my heart – Psalm 119:145
• And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. – 2 Corinthians 9:14
• Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. – Lamentations 2:19

Pray constantly and as long as necessary

• I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly – Ephesians 1:16
• Night and day, I constantly remember you in my prayers. – 2 Timothy 1:3
• They all met together and were constantly united in prayer… – Acts 1:14
• But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. – Psalm 69:13
• I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. – Isaiah 62:6
• One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. – Luke 6:12
• Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. – Luke 18:1

Being disciplined and earnest is an attitude that matters

• The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. – 1 Peter 4:7
• Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. – 1 Thessalonians 3:10
• But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. – Acts 12:5

Pray in the Spirit

• Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. – Ephesians 6:18
• Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. – 1 Corinthians 14:15

Humility is an attitude that matters

• Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” – Matthew 26:42
• I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. – Daniel 9:20

Specific Attitudes that will Move the Heart of God:

• While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the One who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. – Hebrews 5:7
• For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. – Jeremiah 29:11-13
• Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. – Daniel 10:12
• The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. – 1 Peter 3:12

Let’s Recap

We have discovered 12 attitudes that we must have when petitioning the Lord for answers. Once again they are:

• Have an alert mind
• A Thankful heart
• Pray with all our heart
• Pray constantly
• Petition the Lord as long as necessary
• Have a deep reverence for God
• Be disciplined and earnest
• Pray in the Spirit
• Have an attitude of humility and submission
• Seek the Lord wholeheartedly
• Turn from our wicked ways
• Do what is right

I hope you were encouraged by today’s post. Please add any other Scriptural Gems of attitudes you discover in the comment section below. I hope you will subscribe to my website so you will never miss being notified of new posts.

My last post in this series I will be asking the question: Are you praying to the One true God or someone/something else?

I have included a link to a table I assembled for your encouragement of people in the Old Testament that prayed to God along with the results of prayers prayed. You can see it HERE.