Three Levels of Prayer

Three Levels of Prayer
by Eddie Smith

The first level of prayer most of us experience
is praying to receive.

Years ago I was conducting a revival meeting in
Mississippi. One evening, following the service,
we went to dinner at a beautiful old antebellum
home that belonged to some church members.
                                                                     
While we were eating I noticed an odd chain that
extended through the wall near the dining table.
Mystified by it, I asked the homeowner what it
was. He explained that it was a "servant's chain,"
from the days of slavery. When the slave owner's
family was ready to be served their dinner, they
summoned their servants by pulling the chain.

Prayer is often seen as a way for us to "pull God's
chain," to persuade Him to meet our needs. We
have a need, we pray, and God responds with an
answer. Isn't that often our perception of prayer?
This is the most elementary understanding and
application of prayer, not unlike a hungry baby
who cries for his food.

But there are other aspects of prayer that we
grow to understand and experience.

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