Prayers of supplication simply refers to prayers for God’s intervention in your life or the lives of others.
Supplication is when we present our requests to God.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
We are free to ask God for anything, but we must ultimately submit to his will. What we want may not be what he wants for us.
Going a little further, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:39
During your prayers of supplication, ask God for wisdom, discernment, and knowledge of him.
Ask him to reveal to you the sins of your own heart.
Intercessory prayer refers to interceding with God on behalf of someone else. If you tell people, “I’ll will pray for you”, then do it! Intercede with God on their behalf.
Share with God all that is worrying you and ask him for his peace to be real to you. Talk to him about your concerns for the future, about politics, about your wayward child, about your financial struggles. He will listen to you!
Examples of Prayers of Supplication in the Bible
Psalm 86:6 – Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and give heed to the voice of my supplications!
1 Kings 8:30 – Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Isreal, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven your dwelling place; hear and forgive.
Genesis 24:12 – He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.”
Numbers 6:24-25 – The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance on you, And give you peace.
1 Chronicles 4:10 – Now Jabez called on the God of Isreal, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
Be sure to check out all parts of the “How to Pray” series:
What Are Prayers of Adoration?
What Are Prayers of Confession?