The fact is, the vast majority of Christian adults know no more about prayer than the average person on the street. The average Christian adult does not go to church every Sunday. A pastor friend of mine estimated his members attend only 2.5 times a month. Most never go to Sunday School and are not involved in any small group Bible Study. The Lord's Prayer that Jesus gave us begins with this type of prayer. Thanksgiving. This is a prayer of appreciation - giving thanks to God for all the gifts he has given us. Being thankful is one of the best ways to combat depression and times of self-pity. Thanksgiving is a part of nearly every prayer I pray. Confession and/or Penitence. saints,)to)grasp)how)wide)and)long)and)high)and)deep)isthe)love)of)Christ,)and)to)know)thislove) thatsurpasses)knowledge—thatyou)may)be)filled)to)the)measure)of)all vibrant prayer life really looks and feels like. When asked how to pray, Jesus provided a specific prayer as a model known as The Lord's Prayer. But as I've plied the Gospels to better under-stand prayer, I've been taken back by the prayer life of Christ. The prayers of Jesus are marked by simplicity, brevity, and profundity. Only a handful give me a mantle of prayer. It never failed, usually a night watch, the call would come at 3:00 a.m. when sleep became the cost and I would arise. This time was a little different—already in a season of prayer and fasting a greater call came to separate myself. It happened in this manner. The month of January always rings with a call to Contemplating Prayer 2. The second form of contemplative prayer is also known as the 'prayer of the heart'. It is a prayer of love in which no words are necessary. It would be similar to a parent lovingly watching their child play, or two lovers gazing in silence at each other. and demonstrate different types of prayer throughout the bible. You will not have an effective communion with God without spending careful and committed time with him in four major areas of prayer. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men;" - 1 Timothy 2:1 For example, in the letters of Apostle Paul, he's exceedingly thankful: "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you" (Romans 1:8). "I always thank God for you" (1 Corinthians 1:4). "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:16). Of the thirteen letters by Paul, he expresses thanks Prayer is the completion of a two-way conversation between God and humans. God speaks to people through His Word, and people speak to Him through prayer. When you pray, understand that this is not really doing God a favor. Believe it or not many people think that God should be grateful that we will try to talk to Him. Foundation Scriptures: • "Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name." -Psalm 63:4 (NKJV) • "Enter…into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." -Psalm 100:4 (NKJV) • "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord." -Psalm 134:2 (NKJV) • "Let my prayer A few examples of this type of prayer are Psalms 7, 35, 55, 58 and 59. David's prayers (and the imprecatory prayers of others in the Bible) were not hateful or vengeful. We are told by the Lord to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5 and Luke 6. The context for both of those passages is loving our enemies and praying for their g