prayer 101

Last week's prayer gathering was interesting... No because I play the guitar out of rhythm a couple of times but the way the initiator was describing the different "types" of prayer. And they are:

* Conditional prayer
- We tell God, "If you answer this prayer of mine, I promise to go to church/do my Q.T/ tithe more etc."

* Threatening prayer
- We threaten God to answer our prayers by saying, "If you don't answer my prayer, I will not serve in this ministry and not give time to read your word..."

* Extortion prayer
- We demand God to answer our prayers saying, "God, you are so powerful, surely sharing a bit of wealth with me is not a problem rite?"

* Resignation prayer
- We simply give up and tell God "I give up, I don't want to do anything anymore"

It may sound comical but I can identify times when such thots do cross my mind, especially the resignation prayer lately. Is this the way God wants us to approach Him in prayer? Definitely not. It is a relationship. We don't talk like that in relationship so why should we be like this when we are communing with God?

Help me learn to communicate rightly with you, Lord...