Same Power—Different Rules
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jan 23, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 17, 2023
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)
Other translations of Ephesians 6:18 say to pray with all kinds of prayer. Did you know that there are many types of prayer, all with different rules and results? Too often Christians get stuck in a religious rut, praying the same way with the same type of prayer, and find themselves getting different or sporadic results. For example, you can’t pray for finances the same way that you are supposed to pray for a loved one to receive Jesus.
All prayer is powerful, but all prayer has different rules. Think of this like the different rules in athletics. If a football player tried to play by the rules of basketball, he wouldn’t have a very successful game. Not only would the results be sporadic, but there would also be a lot of confusion. Both a football player and a basketball player are powerful in different ways, but the reason they are successful is that they know the rules of their game.
It’s important for Christians to become knowledgeable about the different types of prayer and how to pray them. You have tremendous power at your disposal. But great power can also cause you to be frustrated if you don’t know how to wield it correctly.
Practical Application
Take time to research the different kinds of prayer, including worship, thanksgiving, faith, intercession, supplication, and consecration. Search these words in your Bible and find what the Word has to say about them and then practice them.