20 Types Of Prayer

Last Updated on September 20, 2021 by Pastor Ikechukwu Chinedum

Prayer is a means of communication between mortals and the immortals. It is systematic channels that enhance communication flow between man and God. It is therefore pertinent that we understand and come to the knowledge of types of prayer.

The type of prayer we say differs according to the season, time or situation that we find ourselves. A man doesn’t say a prayer of deliverance when he or she is supposed to be saying a prayer of thanksgiving. Need I say more, when the purpose of a thing is unknown, abuse is inevitable. To effectively carry out our business of prayer, it is important that we understand the season or situation we are in for us to know the exact type of prayers to say unto our maker.
The scripture in the book of 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. All these words used in the Bible passage talks about the type of prayer a man can say unto God.
Having this in mind, we can then proceed to compile a list of the 20 types of prayer that a man can say unto God with relevant examples in the scripture.

1. The Lords Prayer

Before Christ came, during the time of the Levitical Priesthood. Men could not offer prayers to God themselves. It is the sole duty of the Priests to do that on behalf of the people.

However, the coming of Christ brings about Grace that men never enjoyed before. Christ in the book of Luke 11:1-4 was teaching the people how to pray to their heavenly father. It would be recalled that prior to that time. The people had no knowledge of how to pray unto God.
The Lords prayer encompasses everything that we can pray about. If and only if we pray it with understanding.

2. Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is one that is done for someone or a city. A person who says this type of prayer is known as an intercessor. Actually, the intercessory arm of every prayer unit should have the highest number of members. In the old testament, the High priest function as the intercessor. He offers sacrifices to God on behalf of the people.

Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah when God was about to destroy the entire city because of their nefarious acts. However, Abraham prayed to God to have mercy.
Christ Jesus also negotiated on behalf of man. The greatest intercessor is Jesus. He interceded for the entire human race. The Bible says while we are yet sinners, Christ died for us. He paid the capital price with his blood that we may be saved.
We as believers can also become an intercessor for our country, family, friends, and everyone around us.

3. Daily Prayer

This is the type of prayer we offer every day before going out. Many at times, we say this prayer based on the situation we are facing. A man who wants breakthrough or healing from sickness will often turn the prayer of healings to daily prayer.

Asides that, the Bible instructed that we as Christians should pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Often times, many Christians turn the Lord’s prayer into their daily prayer because of their laziness to pray. Having known that the Lord’s prayer is short and simple. However, God always wants us to commit our day into his hands. The scripture made us understand that we should redeem each day because every day is filled with evil. That is why it is important that we have a daily prayer session, where we commit our day into the hands of God.

4. Deliverance prayer

Deliverance can be defined as the act of bringing something out of the possession of another thing that seems powerful. It is the situation of setting free from the captivity of a powerful man. The people of Isreal were a good example of delivered people. For many years they were in the captivity of Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. Until God sent a deliverer (Moses). A prayer of deliverance could mean a warfare prayer. When an individual is possessed with an evil spirit, a prayer of deliverance can be done to rescue the person.

Meanwhile, as believers, we must know that our first deliverance is in accepting Christ as our personal Lord and savior. Confession with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord frees us from any form of demonic slavery. The book of Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The name of Jesus can deliver us from everything holding us bound.

5.Warfare prayer

Warfare prayer is not a pleasant type of prayer. If it can be averted, I’m pretty sure no one will want to find themselves in it. Warfare prayer is a spiritual battle between you and the host of darkness. This battle is real. But worry less Christ has conquered already.

A perfect example of such prayer was when Peter was cast into the prison, the church prayed fervently for him. The church knew that the devil who is the biggest enemy of the gospel was at work when Peter is was arrested. So, they waged war against the power that cast Peter into prison.
Whenever we are in a situation that is very difficult. We must understand the efficacy in the power and blood of Jesus. Declare that the devil loses its power over you and your household, in the name of Jesus.

6. Prayer for healing

Health is wealth. When the devil strikes a heavy blow on the health of a Christian. It can come through the affliction of sickness, disease or plague. This is the perfect time to say a prayer of healing. Prophet Isaiah talked about Christ being one who bear our infirmities and healed all our diseases. Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
This should be our anthem whenever we are attacked with sickness.

7. Prayer to cast out devils

This prayer seem more like a deliverance prayer. But it is usually done to cast the devil himself out of man. The book of Mathew 8 vs 28-34 explains how Jesus sent out demon from two men in the country of Gergesenes. Truly, a man can be possessed by the devil himself. Such individual can be very powerful and violent. But the name of Jesus is a powerful tool in driving out demons.
In the book of Acts 9 the sons of scheva tried to cast out demons the same way Paul had done it. But, the sons of Scheva know not Jesus, hence, they were badly wounded by the evil spirit. It is important that we know the man Jesus and strongly believe in him, before we can cast out demons in his name.

8. Decree and declare prayers

The Bible says those that know their God shall be strong, and they shall do exploit, Daniel 11:32. These are the prayer of authority and command. Some of the relevant people that did this prayer was Prophet Elijah and Joshua. Elijah while in front of the prophets of Baal decree that fire should come down from heaven and consume the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 1:12. Also, Elijah stood in from of Ahab and declared that there shall be no rain. And the heavens was closed for three years and six months.

Prayer of decree and declare is proving our legitimacy as children of God. A student decreeing that I shall not fail, even if the lecturer decides to fail everyone, I will pass.
But, a man might not be able to do that when you do not even know the God that you serve.

9. Prayer of Agreement

St. Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

You might want to say a prayer, but your faith is not steered up yet. There is no harm holding hands with people with a strong faith to pray.
God honours the unity of purpose, that is why the scripture says one will put a thousand to flight and two will put ten thousand to flight. There is power in unity.

10. MIDNIGHT PRAYER

Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

King David understood the intricacies behind calling on God in early hours of the day.
Midnight prayer is very important in the life of a Christian. The best time to get things done is in the midnight, when the earth is alseep. Many of the evil things that manifest during the day were finished in the midnight.
The Bible says when a man slept his enemy came, sowed tares among wheat and went his way, Matthew 13:25.

11. MORNING PRAYER

This is usually the type of prayer that a man say to his maker whenever he wakes to see the light of a new day. It can come in form of thanking God for giving us the privilege for seeing a new day.

12. Praying in the Holy Ghost

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” Jude 1:20.

Praying in the Holy ghost is an indispensable part of our Christian Life. Every believer must pray in the Holy ghost. It helps to build and steer us up in the place of prayer.
Men who tarry more in the place of prayer have actually learned the habit of allowing the Holy ghost speak through them in the place of prayer. You might be wondering if speaking or praying in the Holy ghost is for every believer. Yes! The book of The Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. The gift of the spirit is a blessing to everyman and woman who have accepted Christ as their personal Lord and savior.

13. Sinners prayer

This is the prayers that is said by those who have broken and contrite heart. Those who have acknowledged their sins before God. King David was a perfect example for this prayer. After he slept with Uriah’s wife and had him killed in the battle field. David felt bittered in his spirit, he then went to God to seek forgiveness.

Psalm 51 is a perfect scriptural verse to offer the sinner’s prayer. God delighted not in burnt offerings, the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and contrite heart. It take a man whose heart had been broken by the dastard act that he has committed to say this prayer.

14. Personal supplication prayer

This are the personal prayers we say to God for our own life. Personal supplication prayer is the type that we tell our problems to God with a solemn heart.
After Absalom seized the throne from King David. David had to lay assylum in another country. King Absalom employed the counsel of an advisor named Aithophel. 2 Samuel 15:31, David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness. That’s is an example of personal supplication prayer.

Also, the life of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. These are perfect examples of personal supplication prayer.

15. Prayer of Faith

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The prayer of faith always get a speedy response from God.
God wants us as believers to exhibit faith even we are waiting on him for a particular thing. Laying emphasis to James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. This explains the power in prayer of faith. The Bible says let the weak say I’m strong. Prayer of faith is actually about living on what the word says, living on what the scripture says.

16. Prayer for communion

Before the holy Communion is given out, it is important that prayer is offered unto God. Communion is a convenanted act we have to God through Christ Jesus. Few hours to his arrest, he gave his disciples the communion which signifies his blood and the flesh.

In the same vein, he commanded that we should always do it in his remembrance. In offering this prayer, we must acknowledge the fact that we are not worthy but by Grace we become eligible.

17. Serenity Prayer

Many time, we contend with situations that we can not change. Because, we fear that our peace might be distorted if such thing is taken away. Serenity prayer is a prayer of calmness and peace of mind.
It is a great grace to be able to accept things that we can’t change. To now identify the situation that we can’t change requires greater grace. Consciously or unconsciously, we all say serenity prayer unto. Even the most violent man cherish and adore peace of mind when he sees one.

18. Prayer for the church

The church is the corridor of spirituality. Many believers believe that the church should be the one to offer prayers for the people, without the people reciprocating the gesture. What many don’t understand that the people is the church and the church is the people.

In other words, prayer for the church is prayer for ourselves. The Bible says on this rock I will build my church and the gate of hell will not prevail. Christ knowing that Peter would be the pillar that will carry the church took time to pray for Peter that the enemy would not gain his soul. We also as believers owe the church a duty of care. Which we can shown through our prayers.

19. Prayer for the nation

The Bible says we should should pray for the good of Jerusalem, those that love it shall prosper. Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Our nation is our own Jerusalem. If there is peace in the country, the people will prosper. Men will be able to serve God conveniently when peace reign.

Prayer for the nation can be for peace, for stability, for economic abundance and smooth transition of Government.

20. Prayer for family

As Christians, we can act as a watchman for our family. Whether we are newly married or still under the care of our parents. It is important that we commit our family into the hands of God.

How that Moses refuse to leave with the children of Israel unless the presence of God go with them. Exodus 33:15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. It is important that we seek the presence of God to be upon the affairs of our family.

Having known the different types of prayer that one can say to God. It is therefore important to start praying. A man never have it all. There will always be something to pray about. These types of prayer should help us identify the area that we need to focus our prayer.