The Bible include many prayers of supplication. The word “supplication” comes from the word “supplicate,” which means to ask humbly and earnestly, especially when praying to God. Therefore, a prayer of supplication is one in which we respectfully and humbly ask God to meet a particular need. This kind of prayer is also referred to as a “prayer of petition.” The Bible is filled with prayers of supplication. Here a few examples.
Example prayers of supplication in the Bible
- Samson petitioned God to strengthen him so that he could take revenge on the Philistines for putting out his eyes. (Judges 16:28)
- Elisha prayed to God and asked Him to open his servant’s eyes to see His angels protecting them. Then, he asked God to strike King Aram’s army with blindness. (2 Kings 6:17-18)
- Hezekiah petitioned God for deliverance from King Sennacherib and his Assyrian army. Besides this, Hezekiah prayed that God would extend his life, when he became ill. (2 Kings 19:14-19; 20:2)
- Jesus petitioned the Father to preserve the unity of His disciples and to protect them from Satan’s power. (John 17:10–11, 14-15)
Even though God already knows what we need before we ask Him, He still instructs us to pray (Matthew 6:8-9; Philippians 4:6-7). For one reason, we show our dependence upon God when we pray to Him. In addition, this is the way in which God releases His power to meet our needs. James 4:2-4 tells us the reason many do not receive what they desire. It is because they either do not ask or they ask with wrong motives.
How to make prayers of supplication to God
- Find Bible Scriptures to support your request. The Bible is filled with promises God has made to believers. In view of this, we can find Bible Scriptures that apply to our situation as the foundation of our supplication. We can rest assured that God will keep His promises. Jeremiah 1:12 says that God watches over His Word, making sure it is fulfilled. Also, in Isaiah 40:9 we read, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
- Pray in faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Moreover, whoever comes to God must believe that He exist and that He is rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, when we make supplication to God to meet a particular need in our lives, we must put our trust in Him. Equally important, we must believe that He will accomplish what He has promised in His Word (1 John 5:14-15, ESV).
- Give thanks and praise to God. When you are done making supplication, thank God for the answer and give Him the praise (Hebrews 13:5). We are demonstrating faith in God and His Word, if we thank Him before He answers our requests.
RECOMMENDED READING
For more detail, click on the books below.
