The indwelling Spirit enables a believer to call God “Abba” (Rom 8:15); that is, the Spirit’s work within the believer prompts him or her to address God with the confidence of a child (Rom 8:14). The Spirit must intercede because our prayers are weak; apart from the Spirit, Christians pray without discernment. He takes up our petitions with an earnest pleading beyond words (Rom 8:26-27; Gal 4:6).

• Prayer In The Book Of Psalms: An Overview
Prayer is human communication with God. Psalms could be described as a collection of song-prayers. Probably the most striking features of these prayers aretheir unedited honesty. The words often express our own feelings—feeling that we would prefer no one, much less God, ever knew. Making these Psalms our prayers can teach us a great deal of things about how God wants us to communicate with Him.

Too often, we give God a watered-down version of our feelings, hoping we won’t offend him or make him curious about our motives. As we use the Psalms to express our feelings, we learn that honesty, openness and sincerity are valuable to God. Following are several types of prayers with examples from Psalms. Note that the Psalm writers communicated with God in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons. Each of us is invited to communicate with God. Using the Psalms will enrich our personal prayer life.

Psalms—Prayers Of
Praise to God (100; 113; 117); Thanksgiving by a community (67; 75; 136); Thanksgiving by an individual (18; 30; 32); Request by the community (79; 80; 123); Request by an individual (3; 55; 86); Sorrow by the community (44; 74; 137); Sorrow by an individual (5; 6; 120); Anger (35; 109; 140); Confession (6; 32; 51); Faith (11; 16; 23).

• The three Ps of Prayer: An overview
The book of Habakkuk devotes its last chapter to a prayer. All of God’s people—young or old, rich or poor, powerful or lowly—have the same vital access to their loving heavenly Father. Prayer is our direct line to God. The purposes and procedures may vary, and problems may at times hinder it, but it is always our lifeline to the Master.

Purpose
Praise—for who God is and what he has done (Psalms 67.3, 71.8; Heb 13.15).
Thanks—for God’s blessings (Psalms 107,1, 118 28; 1 Thes 5:18).
Confession—of sin and desire for forgiveness (Ps 32:5: Dan 9:4-5; 1Jn 1:9).
Petition—for our personal needs (Psalm 31:9-10; Luke 22:40; Phil 4:6).
Intercession—on behalf of others’ needs (Exo 32:11-12. Acts 12.5; Ephe 6:18).

Procedure
Pouring out our troubles (Ps 142:2); pleading for help for our needs (Heb 4:16); tuning in to God constantly (1Thes 5:17); asking in Jesus’ name (Jn 14:14); believing an answer will come (Mat 21:22).

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