Ephesians

1. All Kinds of Prayers

This is the widest classification. If you take the whole range of biblical teaching on prayer, you find that prayer, as it is presented in Scripture, is nothing more nor less than conversation with God. That’s all. Prayer is simply conversing with God.

A Christian, remember, is a member of the family of God. So prayer is family talk. It is friendly, intimate, frank, unrestricted conversation with God. It is a chat with the Father around the heavenly dinner table. We have been brought into this close, intimate relationship by faith in Jesus Christ. We are no longer strangers—we are children of God, part of the family circle. So prayer is simply carrying on a conversation with God—and that is the first category of prayers Paul talks about.

2. Requests

A request is a specific plea for God to supply a need. “You do not have, because you do not ask God,” says James 4:2. In our conversation with God it is perfectly proper to ask, because we are His children and He is our Father.

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul commends both of these forms of prayer: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” The apostle is saying, in effect, “After you have put on the armor of God, then talk to God about it. Tell Him your reactions, tell Him how you feel, and ask Him for what you need.”