petition prayer

What is the meaning of the word "petition"?

The definition of petition is to make a request. So when we come to God in petition we are asking him to do something - either for ourselves or others. The Apostle Paul mentions this word when he writes to the church in Philippi:-

" Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phillipians 4:6, NIV)

This website features several prayers of petition which can be accessed by following the links below. There is also a beautiful example of a prayer of petition further down this page.

general prayers of petition

Here are links to prayers which ask God for wisdom, happiness, strength and peace:-

• wisdom - this page features a contemporary prayer asking God for his discernment and wisdom, a prayer for God to reveal his knowledge through the reading of scripture, and the famous "Serenity Prayer" with it's request for courage, wisdom and acceptance.

• happiness - one of the roots to finding happiness is thanksgiving - taking time to thank God for all the many wonderful things that he provides for us. When are hearts rest in this place we are more likely to be content and not be longing after the "next thing" in life. The three prayer examples on this page explore this approach.

• prayers for strength - this page contains a selection of contemporary prayers which ask for God's strength and power to face various life challenges and situations, such as mourning the loss of a loved one, marriage difficulties or health problems.

• adoration - when we are asking God for things, it's very important that we avoid perceiving God as some kind of heavenly "slot machine". Adoration reminds us that prayer is chiefly about relationship, about discovering and knowing the living God. This page contains a prayer that reminds us of God's wonders, and features a sample prayer of adoration and confession.

• surrender - similar in nature to prayers of adoration, these prayers remind us of our place in relation to the living God. Here there is a prayer of total surrender - mind, heart, dreams and soul to God, and the famous "Disturb us Lord" poem attributed to Sir Francis Drake.

• worry and peace - without God in the centre of our lives, for many worry will be the default position of our thinking. Even if you are a Christian, life's woes and fears can quickly flood our minds, often leading us to imagine the worst case scenerios. This page offers two prayer examples - one for where worry is stress related, and another for when anxious thoughts are overwhelming us. You may also want to read our prayers for peace of mind as you surrender these fears to Christ.

Example of a Petition Prayer

The "The Serenity Prayer" is a beautiful example of a petition prayer for oneself:-

specific petition requests

This site also has several inspiring prayers for specific events or occasions:-

• prayers of illumination - these sorts of petitions are commonly associated with asking for God's revelation, and will be commonly spoken before a bible reading or sermon. This page has two short prayers of illumination for these times in a church service.

• finance - this page offers two prayers for those in financial difficulty. The first one reminds us of God's faithfulness and provision in the past, and asks for a financial miracle in the present. The second prayer designed as a daily prayer of blessing on finance, asking God for his provision and shelter.

• work - are you seeking to change your job or move into a different career? This page has a simple prayer for a new work opportunity, and also a prayer for strength for when the time comes to start the new job. There is also a prayer here for those who currently in need of God's favor at work.

• prayers for lost things - here are two simple prayers asking for God's help to find that precious missing thing or item.

• recovery from sickness - the scriptures declare that God "heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds" (Psalm 147:3, NLT). This page features two petitions - the first one is a request for a speedy recovery from recent ill health, the second is a more specific prayer for restoration from surgery. If you currently have a friend who is sick, then there is also a page with three sample get well soon prayers appropriate for sending in a card or as a message.

• prayers for safe travel - this page has a series of prayers for those who are planning a long road trip, flight or sea voyage. Here there is an excerpt from the famous prayer "St Patricks Breastplate", a prayer for protection when flying, and a short prayer for travelling.

• prayers for a sick dog - watching your pet falling ill can be a distressing experience, and if your beloved dog passes away the grief experienced can be as real as the loss of a friend. This page offers two sample prayers for when your dog is sick or dies, and can be used for cards or memorial services.

"When the solution is simple, God is answering."

(Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist, 1879-1955)

a daily prayer

The beautiful "Day by Day" prayer (by St Richard of Chichester). An inspiring petition to love God more dearly, day by day:-

"Adoration reminds us that prayer is chiefly about... discovering and knowing the living God"

prayers of illumination

"Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way"

(2 Timothy 3:17, MSG)

prayers for finance

"Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can"

John Wesley, co-founder of Methodism, 1703-1791)

read about the ACTS model of praying
understanding the ACTS acronym - adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication, and what these terms can mean for your prayer life.