What does 'prayer' mean to you? How would you define it? Ever wondered why scripture says "prayer and supplication"? Why use both words unless they mean something different? Let's look at what those words mean.
Supplication: noun; the act of asking for something earnestly or humbly
So, why did Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, use both words when they each seem to mean the same thing? The truth is, they don't mean the same thing. Not if you look closely. There is a difference in prayer and supplication. Both involve an earnest asking. Yet, one asks by faith in obedience and the other asks by faith in contentment.
Prayer is the act of obedience to scripture which commands that we spend time in prayer and fasting over the things the Lord has promised and will come to pass. It is a proclamation of the Word of God over our lives and circumstances. It is prophetic speech because it is supremely in line with scripture.
Jesus commanded us, "when you pray, pray like this..." The Lord's prayer is an acknowledgement of God's holiness and sovereignty and a proclamation of his promise to his people. (For more on the Lord's prayer, see my blog on it HERE). Prayer is an act of faith, by which we put voice to scripture. It is the process by which our faith is strengthened and method by which we grow in our relationship with Jesus. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word." Prayer is always scripture led, which means it cannot return void. It does not fail. And, the answer is always yes, because the Lord has promised to Jeremiah, "I watch over my word to perform it."
Supplication is different from prayer because it is a request we make unto God that is not a proclamation of his word, but a want of our hearts. The scripture must also govern this and the fruit of the spirit must be born for it to be effective. The fruit of goodness is the key to effective supplication. Scripture tells us, "do nothing from selfish ambition." Our request should not be for our benefit, but for the benefit of the body and ultimately for the ascribed glory of God. These request are made with the understanding that God can answer with 'no.' This request is made with thanksgiving, that the Lord will "do everything according to the counsel of his perfect will." This is the "not my will, but yours be done" prayer we see of Christ in the garden. The attitude is one of thanksgiving and reverence that the Lord will have his way, which is higher than our way, and which will always be for the eternal good of those that love him and for the eternal glory he deserves.
This is why "the prayer of the righteous availeth much." A righteous man will pray righteous requests, according to the truth of scripture. A righteous man prays to God's glory, not man's esteem. It is perfectly fine to ask God for what you want. The key, though, is the motive for this want, remembering that, as believers, it is no longer we who live, but Christ in us. And, we must understand that until we have been sanctified and glorified and united fully to Christ, we will battle the will of the flesh. Paul said there were two laws within him. "I myself serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." The "flesh is enmity with God." It does not and cannot please God. When our prayers are led by our fleshly desires, they are ineffective and only produce more division between us and our maker. But, when our prayer and supplication is rooted in a leading by the Holy Spirit, we are united with Christ. This prayer is powerful, effective, and accomplishes much, because it is the word of God which will not and cannot return void.
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