How to Pray With Purpose

Although many people pray with sincere devotion and trust in God, most prayers consist of petitions. While asking God for a specific favor for yourself or others is a genuinely holy prayer, there are actually five types of prayer. Each one is necessary, for as sinful people we need to offer ourselves up to God in different ways as well as ask for infinite blessings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Humble yourself in the prayer of Submissive Adoration. In this type of prayer, present yourself to God with an open heart and soul. You must approach God with humility, resign your will to God's own and accept what is asked of you in your life.
2. Approach the Lord in Loving Adoration. When you pray with this attitude you are saying your love and desire to be with God is above all things. It is a pure love expressed in your actions and words and this prayer acknowledges what you owe God for such goodness and mercy.
3. Give thanks to God. Everything we have and everything we are exists because of God's love and generosity, even though no one could ever deserve this. It should be impossible not to thank God for everything in life. Let us go before God and express our thankfulness in humility and joy.
4. Place your petitions before God with hope and trust. God will never desert you and has promised to answer your every prayer. Throughout the Bible God continually instructs you to ask for what you need, so that you may receive gifts and blessings.
5. Beg God for mercy in Prayers of Expiation. By our individual sins and omissions we continually offend, and because of God's mercy and love we should never fear or hesitate to kneel before and beg for forgiveness. God's mercy and graces are freely given, and when we plead to be spared the consequences of our individual sins or the sins of others, God will restore the grace in our soul.