Three Basic Parts of Prayer

Every living thing (man, animal and plant life) is defined and sustained by three functions: input, process and output. Likewise, the spiritual growth and maturity of a Christian revolves around these three processes or themes redefined as: Relationship, Transformation and Dominion.

Relationship (upward focus) involves God and man sharing a mutual interaction of love, communication and trust.

Transformation (inward focus) denotes continuous change. It involves dying to self and allowing God more control of my life: less of my will and more of His will, less of my mind and more of His mind, less of my limited human love and more of His perfect agape love: "He must increase and I must decrease."

Dominion (outward focus) concerns God sharing His authority and power with man, as a son of God, to fulfill His will and work on earth as he is directed and driven by God's perfect love. This includes engagement in the harvest field and battlefield with dominion and authority over Satan and sickness – meeting people's needs of healing, deliverance and salvation.

Every concept in the Bible that pertains to Christian living and service relates to one or more of these three key subjects or themes. These three inter-related biblical concepts should be repeated in a continuous cycle to bring spiritual maturity and fulfillment of God's purpose and will for our lives.

Three Positions or Focuses of Prayer

(Upward, Inward and Outward)

A balanced and effective prayer life will include:

- Relationship Prayer (upward focus).

- Transformation Prayer (inward focus).

- Dominion Prayer (outward focus).

Although there are other types of prayer, however, they will fit into one of these three categories. Refer to PowerPoint Charts P-2, P-3, P-4 and P-5 on the following pages of this chapter.

Isaiah's Life-changing Vision and Prayer

Isaiah felt extremely secure under the leadership, friendship and protection of King Uzziah. But Isaiah's relationship with Jehovah God was not complete; because he was trusting too much in a powerful earthly king and not enough in the heavenly King. After King Uzziah's death, Isaiah stopped by the house of God. Isaiah's vision and rededication recorded in Isaiah, Chapter 6 describes his life-changing vision and encounter with God, and illustrates these three key elements and positions in prayer.

Upward vision: Isaiah saw the Lord in His power, glory and holiness. He saw his need to renew his relationship with God. It was a vision of height -- the Lord high and lifted up: "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." It was a vision of God's holiness: "The seraphims crying to one another: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Inward vision: He saw himself and his need for repentance, and transformation. It was a vision of depth. He saw the recesses of his own heart that needed to be cleansed and changed. It was a vision of helplessness (my needs): "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips."

Any time we draw near to God and feel His awesome presence and holiness, we feel the need to fall at His feet in confession and repentance. And God's response will always be, like that to Isaiah: "Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."

Outward vision: He saw the world and the needs of others. He heard the call to step into the dominion role to do God's will and work. It was a vision of breadth that revealed a world with needs that must be met. It was a vision that revealed the desire of God's heart -- for someone to deliver His message to the world. "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (God's needs). And finally, it was Isaiah's response that we all must make: "Then said I, Here am I; send me."

Moses' Tabernacle

These three types of prayer are also reflected in the three divisions of Moses' tabernacle. Praying through the tabernacle:

1. Starts in the outer court with transformation prayer of repentance at the altar of sacrifice, and with consecration and purity at the brazen laver.

2. Continues into the inner court, the Holy Place, with relationship prayer of thanksgiving, praise and worship at the altar of incense.

3. Continues past the veil into the Most Holy Place with dominion prayer that affect the needs of others. This is the place where the Gifts of the Spirit operate in the supernatural realm in partnership with our great omnipotent God. Here, there is access to supernatural power and dominion over Satan and sickness.

The descriptions of Relationship, Transformation and Dominion prayers on the following pages are provided as a basic guide or pattern for a balanced and effective prayer life.

However, your own words should be used in:

(1) Relationship prayer: thanking, praising, worshipping and making petitions to our wonderful heavenly Father – the King of kings and Lord of lords.

(2) Transformation prayer: confession, repentance and asking God to change us to be more like Him (less of me and more of Him).

(3) Dominion prayer: intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare prayer to impact our lost world; prayer for God's wisdom and direction in pursuing His will and work in the battlefield and harvest field.

The prayer Charts (P-3, P-4, P-5) may be printed and put on a prayer board or wall. Colored sticky notes may be used to add your own unique prayer request to each of these charts.

1.1 Relationship Prayer (upward focus)

(1) Thanksgiving (for God's love and blessings)

Psalms 100:4, 5

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all...