Are Your Prayers Petionary or Relational?

Both. I think the Bible teaches both.

 

oh my goodness! Barry and I are ALWAYS asking for wisdom! But I think what we find ourselves doing most in prayer is thanking God -- for all kinds of things everyday and so much for each other.

We bring our family and friends before Him in prayer, as well as others. And we've learned to be still and listen for His leading inside.

Sometimes it just a sort of 'chatting' for me, when I am outside with the animals or gardening. Laying all manner of things out in the open before Him and finding myself laughing at my own silliness sometimes.

Prayer is so much more, for us at least, than simply those two choices. I have seen my husband, when stymied by something in his research, get off his chair and onto the floor on his knees and pray about it. He lays everything in our lives before the Lord, always seeking direction.

 

I should qualify my response by saying I think all prayer ends up being relational, but being a petitioner is part of our relationship.

 

Then our relationship ain't right.

 

If one thinks that God is Santa Claus or a big marshmallow somewhere up in the sky...he had better get his relationship with God on a solid footing.

 

Here's one reason why I think it's both. First, you have the Lord's prayer. That prayer is ALL about relationship, IMO. Even the part about "give us this day our daily bread" is about our dependent relationship.

But then you also have this parable:

One important part of this prayer is that it isn't for goodies. She wants justice and relief from her adversary. But she's petitioning, nevertheless, and we're told to keep praying and not lose heart.

Finally, you have things like the prayer of Jabez, and the fact that Jacob wrestled and wouldn't let go without a blessing. I "wrestle" with this concept, myself, but it appears as if God actually wants us to petition for a blessing.

Just note that none of this is the "God, please send me a million dollars" kind of petition.