February 04, 2026

How I used to pray

7 minutes

Garth Heckman

The David Alliance

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What if our prayers were simply admissions rather than confessions…

What do I mean?

Most people pray begging God… telling him what he already knows, asking for things he already said he would provide. We are confessing our doubts to him rather than praying simple confessions… that is what the word of God already says about a situation… we confess what Gods word says.

1. The Core "Postures" of Prayer

These are the different intents or "heart-settings" mentioned throughout scripture:

Petition (Supplication): Simply asking for what you need. From the "daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer to Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:6 to "let your requests be made known to God."

Intercession: Praying on behalf of others. Abraham interceding for Sodom or Paul praying for the early churches are classic examples.

Thanksgiving: Shifting the focus from what you want to what you have. The Bible often pairs this with petition—gratitude is the "atmosphere" in which prayer should happen.

Lament: A raw, honest cry to God in pain or frustration. About a third of the Psalms are laments, showing that God welcomes our "unfiltered" emotions.

Adoration & Praise: Prayer focused entirely on God’s character rather than your own needs.

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By Garth Heckman

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