Do you drive to work the same way every day? Do you shop in the same store and follow the same route through the store? Often we become creatures of habit. We become comfortable with a way of doing things and then we stick with that way. It becomes habit. It is easy for prayer to become habit; this can be both good and bad. It is good to have a habit of praying. Without effort to build a strong and consistent habit it is easy to start missing prayer times and get out of the habit. On the other hand it is dangerous to get into habits and only pray a certain way. Prayer can become ritual instead of prayer, if we allow this to happen.
The prayers of most people are filled with prayers of petition. Very simply put, we are petitioning, that is asking, God for something. There is nothing wrong with type of prayer; it is something we are directed to do. There are so many needs around us that prayers of petition must fill a great deal of our prayer time and efforts. However, there are times when we need to change over into other types of prayer. An example of this is prayer of praise.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV)
Notice the prayer type they were practicing. It says, “As they ministered to the Lord.” We need time of ministering to Lord; times when we are not asking for anything. These times are rich times with our Father; we are doing what God made man for, to fellowship with Him. As we learn from these verse and many other examples from the Word, the Holy Spirit will come and minister to us as we minister unto Him. It is amazing to see what God will do when we minister to Him, but even if He did nothing, the time would be well spent.
The practice of prayer of praise is good for all of us to practice, but would be especially good for churches and groups to practice. At first it may be tough, even many of the songs we like to sing are about us or petitioning God for something, but with a little work we can have times of prayer of praise before our Father. When they practiced this in Antioch the Holy Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for work and you know what they did! Try it; perhaps the Holy Spirit will separate you out for the work of the ministry!
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Acts 16:25-26 (NKJV)
