Praise/Adoration/Blessing:
Our Father Who Art In Heaven Hallowed/Holy/Sanctified is Your Name
To adore God is to Praise and Exalt Him!  We begin our prayers expressing His greatness and goodness.  Psalm 145 begins like this: I will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. I will bless you every day, and I will praise you forever.  Great is the LORD!  He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery.  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.  All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

Repentance/Confession: 
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done.  For the Lord’s Kingdom and will to manifest it self in our lives and surroundings our hearts must be clean.  After entering into the presence of the LORD we recognize that we are undone, even as Isaiah did after the death of king Uriah.  This is the time when we recognize that we fall short of God’s glory and His ways.  Sin means to miss the mark, and when we miss the mark we must ask for forgiveness.  Confession cleanses us, as it is written, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9) Wow!  What a promise!  What do we confess:  Firstly, what the spirit reveals within our hearts. Secondly, any words or actions we know are not pleasing to the LORD.  Listen to yourself—out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh; i.e. if you have compromised or lusted—repent of spiritual adultery.   Be specific!  “Lord, I was angry and yelled at the kinds vs. I’ve not acted like I wanted to.” 
 
Often times in daily confession you will be acknowledging your same shortcomings.  It may be pride, lust, slothfulness, temper, self-centeredness, or whatever God reveals to you.  Confessing repeated failure can get discouraging, and you may wonder if God will continue to forgive you.  The answer is a resounding “yes.”  Do you remember reading when the disciples of Jesus asked him how many times they should forgive?  Jesus replied, “seven times seventy.”  The scriptures teach us that the LORD delights in mercy, the foundation of forgiveness. He loves to hear a contrite heart and forgive!  Think about it—who else can you go to in the universe with a bad report card and receive not only forgiveness, but have the marks erased so you can start over?    Buddha can’t forgive, Mary can’t forgive, Harikristna can’t forgive, the Hindu gods can’t forgive, only God can forgive and He does through His saving name, Yeshua! Yeshua can and does forgive our sins!  The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness, every bad mark—can you believe it?  What a privilege it is to come before a righteous King whose throne is graced with Mercy.  Mark Gali and James Bell say, “To acknowledge our habitual sins is simply a bit of housecleaning.  For example, I try to keep my desk in order, but it regularly succumbs to chaos (can you relate J).  I don’t beat myself up when this happens, but I do acknowledge it.  Then I set about straightening it up.  I don’t refuse to straighten it simply because odds are that it will become a mess again.  The same is true for confession:  it’s merely an acknowledgment that my soul is in a mess again and that it needs attention.”  Are you ready to confess?
 
Forgiveness: 
Although forgiveness seemingly falls in the category of confession, as we confess our unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, etc. towards ourselves and others, forgiving another is vital to one’s salvation.  Forgiveness is divine.  One who has the ability to readily forgive will always remain in a state of joy and peace accompanied by God’s divine grace.  Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and a skewed perception of life.  It causes us to take justice into our own hands, speak evil of another, view circumstances in a tainted manner, and stop praying.  This is why Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 11:25, “And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any:  that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”   Forgiveness is also a part of the Our Father prayer—“forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those who trespass against us.” 
 
For many years I worked with Chronic Pain and Cancer patients.  During that time, I noticed a trait that existed with most patients—unforgiveness.  The bitterness of their heart was often expressed in conversation.  One of the reasons the scripture teaches us not to go to law with one another or sue one another is because the internal damage (i.e. unforgiveness) to ones soul is far more detrimental than the external damage that brought the law suit.  Many of the chronic pain patients who we treated were victims of car accidents or work accidents.  Because of an accident, they were either on workman’s compensation or involved in a lawsuit from the damaging party.  Let me ask you, “Is it possible to completely forgive someone and the surrounding circumstances when you have to defend yourself in court?”  When you are looking for personal gain from a situation, can you forgive?  No.  Because if you forgive, you will not have the heart to pursue a lawsuit, especially if it is above and beyond the taking care of your medical expenses.  The scripture is repeatedly plain that you are not to render evil for evil or accusation for accusation, but to follow that which is good, both among believers as well as to all men.  If there are extenuating circumstances when compensation may be a right thing to pursue, one should obtain wise counsel with righteous men such as your pastor and elders, or rabbi and beit din .
 
America is known among the Asian legal system as “sue happy.”  They marvel at the injustice of the way Americans sue one another.  What ever happened to Love Your Neighbor? Forgiveness and restitution are the appropriate ways to handle misgivings between individuals, especially if they are Judeo-Christian. 
 
Confession and forgiveness be it of yourself or others always proceeds healing.  James 5:14-16 reads, “Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let him pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 
 
It is good to make a habit of immediately, right on the spot, forgiving anyone who says or does something that is wrong.  Learn to pray even if it is under my breath, “Lord I forgive him/her/them.”  If you know someone has ought against you, try to go and make things right with your brother or sister before you present your tithes and offerings to God—lest they are not accepted (Matthew 5:22-24).  There is a direct correlation of an offering being accepted by God with forgiveness between brethren. 
 
So, how does one forgive?  Firstly, you forgive by confessing to God that you forgive so and so and asking Him also to forgive so and so.   Secondly, you forgive by asking God to help anyone who you have trespassed against, willingly or ignorantly, to forgive you.   Forgiveness is not only words; it is a state of purity of heart. 
 
How do you know when forgiveness is necessary?  You will always know when there is a need for forgiveness because you will feel ought in your or speak negatively about that person or any associated circumstance. Forgiveness applies to all, including you! The situation may also need confession to the other individual, especially if you have confessed and forgiven, but the ought is still there.  While in prayer make your confession, forgive and then go and make things right with all.  Are you ready to forgive?
 
Thanksgiving:
After you have confessed and forgiven, it is natural to Thank God for his goodness and mercy.  Confession and forgiveness lead us to think about God’s goodness toward men. Counting our blessings daily is extremely important for our salvation.  In Malachi it is written, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:  and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD and that thought upon his name.”  When we thank God for our blessings we are thinking upon His name.  We are blessing His name.  David said, “I will enter into His gates with thanksgiving.”  Thanksgiving is an attitude and the entering into “His gates” often implies “His thoughts.”  Timothy said in the last days men will become unthankful.  A thankful heart is mindful of God and His blessings continually.  Thanking God let’s God know that you know where your blessings come from.  One of God’s major concerns after bringing Israel into the promise land is that they would forget their maker.  They would forget who, what and where everything that they are and have has come from.  Even today we must continually remember to bless the LORD is all things, lest our hearts be seized by material gain and the deceit of riches.   

Paul said to, “give thanks in everything for this is the will of God is Messiah.”  I know that sometimes we think that, “this situation cannot possibly be the will of God.”  Yet, the Word of God says that, “everything is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua concerning you.”  Therefore, the question should not be whether or not something is the will of God, but what is the best way to handle the situation you are now finding yourself in.  God may be adding to your character more of His nature.  He may be teaching you how to fight in a battle and take authority over your enemy.  He may be teaching you selflessness and the beauty of submission.  Whatever it is, let’s be thankful because the lesson will surely bear fruit that is worthy of salvation! And isn’t that our goal?
 
Thanksgiving leads us to rejoice over all that God has done.  Rejoicing springs from a heart of joy and the joy of the LORD is our strength.  As we begin to thank God and rejoice over His goodness we receive strength for the journey.  Are you ready to Thank Him?
 
Supplication/Petition:
Although it has been said that “supplication” is another word for “petitioning” for personal needs, this may not be altogether true.  Supplication in and of itself is the foremost type of prayer exampled in the scriptures.  Supplication can be applied to both personal needs and intercessory prayer as seen in the book of Daniel.  Daniel is an excellent example of one who knew how to put on sackcloth and ashes and make supplication before the LORD.  Yet, it is recorded that Daniel rarely made petitions for himself.  Often, his times of supplication were for the house of Israel. 
 
Daniel 9:3 begins, “And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes:  And I prayed unto the Lord MY God, and made my confession, and said, O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:” Daniel continues his prayer by confessing all that Israel did to the prophets and how deserving they were of God’s judgments.  His confession is detailed and intermingled with praise to God.  Furthermore, Daniel uses the Word of God as a base of presenting his case to God, “And he has confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judges us, by bringing upon us a great evil:  for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem.  As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us:  yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.”
 
Daniel after confessing the sins of his people reminds God of his great attributes and closes his prayer with these words, “Now therefore, Oh our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the LORD’s sake.  Oh my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name:  for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.”  And then the scripture says, “And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; yes while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in a vision at the beginning, being cause to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening sacrifice.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth.” 
 
Daniel was petitioning God to have mercy on His temple and the Holy City Jerusalem.  The word “supplication” in the Hebrew is the same word used for “grace or favor.”   What differentiates the word “supplication” from the word “petition” is the attitude of the heart.  A supplicating prayer is, “a prayer that is prayed with humbleness and contrition of heart.”  It is prayed with such brokenness and truth that God’s scepter and favor is lowered upon that individual and upon his prayer.  We can petition God for anything, but for a petition to become a supplication is another part of prayer indeed.  Psalms 34 says, “God is near to them that have a broken heart and saveth such as have a contrite spirit.”  David said in Psalm 51:17 that “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.”  Notice that Daniel not only confessed and petitioned God for His house that lay desolate, but He also interceded for His people.  Supplication in this case applied to both petition and intercession—it again stresses that supplication focuses on the attitude of the heart and the way a prayer is prayed regardless of the type of prayer.  
 
The question now becomes “how does one get to the place where he is supplicating before God?”  The more a man humbles himself in prayer before God and is willing to confess on behalf of his self and others, the more a man is preparing himself to supplicate.  Supplication comes through the dying out of ones own self—understanding man’s minuteness in comparison to God’s greatness.  It is the infinite understanding that God’s mercy is the only hope any of us have of being able to stand before God on Judgment Day—Oh the riches of God’s mercy.  Hosea 5:6 says, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
 
One more note on supplication praying.  Supplication praying is often accompanied with fasting and an attitude of mourning or sorrow, which is found in the case of Daniel.  Whether or not this is the case, supplication prayer always includes the acknowledgement of Who God is, His covenant, His Word, Our sins, the sins of our forefathers, and God’s ability to answer.  
 
After understanding how supplication is different or a particular attitude when making a petition you may ask, “can I petition God without supplicating?”  Yes, there are several places in scripture where we are told to ask.  You cannot receive until you ask—so ask.  We are not always in supplication when we are asking.  Sometimes we are feeling bold and confident, sometimes we are feeling afraid and lonely, the key to petitioning God is asking.  The key to petitioning God for anything is “asking in faith believing that you shall receive.” Matthew 7:7 records, “Ask and you shall receive.”  John 14:13, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  Mark 11:24, “Listen to me!  Whatsoever you desire when you pray, if you believe that you will receive it, you shall have whatsoever you desire.”  
 
Of course there are improper ways to petition God.  Never petition God with an accusing spirit or an attitude that says to God that he owes you something.  Also, check your motives.  Any petition prayed from the root of lust or the love of money will not be answered. 
 
Oddly enough, when it comes to petition people find themselves shy and they usually run out of things to ask God, why? It could be because we do not understand the riches and resources of God and how much he desires to avail them to his children.  When we petition God, we are also partaking in the most opportune bless others and yourself in the LORD.  Whatever comes to mind, bless whoever you are making a petition about before God.  For example, let’s say aunt Mary needed a new washing machine.  Your petition to God will be for Him to provide her with that machine.  But, let’s look at the details and how you can bless her in that situation.  Lord, I pray that you would provide aunt Mary with a new washing machine.  I pray that you would bless her with the knowledge to know where to shop and the wisdom choose the right one.  I pray that you would bless her with a fair price and the finances to pay for it.  I pray that you would bless her with an honest salesman.  I pray that you would bless her with a machine that is trouble free.  LORD, let the replacement of aunt Mary’s machine be a testimony of your goodness and lead her to a deeper level of God consciousness in her life—Amen!  This type of example can be prayed for all types of petitions, be they natural or spiritual. 
 
Supplication/Intercession:
Intercessory prayer is included in the divine first of all written by Paul in 1st Timothy 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quite and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua.”
 
Intercession is the heartbeat of God.  Over and over again in the Bible God is looking for an intercessor so he can stay his hand of judgment.  It was only when he could not find an intercessor that he had to pour out his judgment, which he did not want to do.  God prepared for Himself a body: hence, He gave His only begotten Son (flesh and blood) for the sole purpose of “intercession.”  Isaiah 53:12 reads, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death:  and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
 
Intercession is “standing in the gap between heaven and hell for mankind and his salvation.”   Every prayer prayed for another leads him closer to salvation. Why is salvation so important?  Because salvation is the means by which man escapes the wrath and judgments of God upon evil.  Why is it important to intercede?  Because when God gets involved He gets involved with the intent to save.  It is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance.  In the book of Ezekiel, God says that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  God’s plan has and continues to be a plan of salvation for all men.  His investment is more costly and holds more value than all the riches of this world.  Our investing in His investment will reap untold eternal rewards. That investment begins with Intercession.  I have written much on the basics of intercession in the book “Teach Us To Fast and Pray.”  In this chapter I would like to focus on the different ways of the “how to” intercede.
 
The first and most important realization in intercession is that “Jesus is the great intercessor.”  The scriptures teach us, “He ever lives to make intercession for us and for all them that come unto God through Him.”  We are His body (flesh and blood) upon the earth and therefore we are the vehicles that He uses for interceding on behalf of the needs of others.
 
Intercession embraces all needs—be they physical, social, emotional, intellectual, financial, or familial.  Needs are not only confined to individuals but also incorporate families, businesses, towns, cities, states, nations and countries.  Remember it is God’s will that all men be saved.
 
How does one intercede? He intercedes with his understanding as well as by the Spirit of God.  He intercedes according to burden as well as according to responsibility.  You may know a need but not feel a burden.  You are still responsible to pray and hold that individual before God, if the need is made known to you or if you felt a quickening by God’s spirit when you heard it.  We are to bear one another’s burdens—there is nothing super spiritual about it—plain and simple, it is a responsibility that is expected when you engage in relationships. 
 
How does one know when to pray in his understanding and when to pray in the Spirit? In answering this question, we must leave significant room for diversity.  All of us pray differently and learn the leading of God’s Spirit in his own way.  One can pray in his understanding with a known tongue as well as when he is speaking in tongues.  When one is speaking in tongues when he is thinking of and requesting from God something specific, he is praying in his understanding.  His human spirit is praying through God’s spirit.  This is similar to a person praying the same words in a known language.  Praying in the Spirit takes one beyond his understanding and again can be prayed in a known language or an unknown language.  When one is praying in the Spirit he is not in control of his thoughts or what he is praying.  God is praying through him.  One may find his mind blank and without the knowledge of what he is praying for.  One may find a subject, quite contrary of what he thought he was going to pray about come into his Spirit and literally hear the Spirit praying through him regarding that subject.  One might find himself going to scriptures and praying them with authority and anointing in a known tongue, yet completely Spirit led.  These are examples of praying in the Spirit—God depositing His burden into your heart and you submitting to the assignment.  On the other hand, when you pray with understanding you are depositing your thoughts and desires for others into the heart of God.  Either way, if it is true intercession you are standing in the gap between God and Hell for another.
 
There are several categories that we are commanded to intercede for.  First and foremost we are to pray for Kings (Presidents, Prime Ministers) and all that are in authority (National leaders, State leaders, Religious leaders as well as all who hold leadership positions in any capacity).  Leaders are considered ministers of God and are appointed by God for our well-being. It is the will of God for all men to lead good, honest and peaceable lives.  Leaders who allow themselves to be governed by the principles of God will be leaders who exalt righteousness and subdue the devises of the wicked.  The scripture teach us that leaders are appointed for terror among the wicked.
 
Intercession alters the Spirit world.  It literally dispels darkness and invokes light.  It pulls down principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places that oppose God’s sovereign rule over man.  Such powers operate through the power of suggestion.  They cloak men with their ideologies through the use of words.  Words are the vehicle by everything exists good and evil.  Words are the creative force behind the plans of the righteous or the plans of the wicked.  Nothing in and of itself is innately evil—what makes evil “evil” is the way something is presented or propagated.  For example, the human body is not evil, intimacy is not evil, relationships between men and women under the confines of marriage are not evil.  But, when the human body is used for fornication and the marriage bed is defiled by adultery, evil is manifest.  Pornography is evil—plain and simple.  It is a defilement of misuse of the human body, which is the Temple of God.  Pornography is not just indecent movies based upon vial sexual exhibitions; it also includes a pronounced emphasis on sexual activity.  Magazines today are exploiting sex and taking it to a height of relevancy that God never intended.  Intimacy is a modest show of adoration between two couples for the purpose of union and childbearing.  Sex that delves beyond that is an “immodest show of behavior for the purpose of self-gratification.”  Marriages that have trouble on an intimate level do not need more sex and advice for a better sex life; they need more forgiveness, prayer, and communication on a personal basis.  When a married couple brings magazines that suggest immodest sexual behavior to enhance their intimacy into the home, they are releasing a spirit of pornography.  This spirit will affect not only their marriage but also their children.  Pornography is rooted in lasciviousness/wantonness.  Galatians 5:5 reads, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  
 
To intercede properly you must be able to know what you are dealing with in a person’s life.  The works of the flesh are the doors of sin/temptation in an individual’s life, giving access to the control of Satan and demonic influence.
 
In the case of pornography, the work of the flesh is lasciviousness.  Lasciviousness means, “wantonness, filthy, undisciplined, unmanageable, unchaste, lewd, immoral; recklessly or arrogantly disregardful of justice, decency, peoples rights or feelings; lavish, luxurious, or extravagant: said of speech, dress, etc., an immoral or unchaste woman; to indulge in playful, indiscriminate, or excessive lovemaking; to indulge in excessiveness of conduct, language, etc.”  In other words it is the opposite of modesty and moderation.
 
When interceding for those bound by pornography we need to not only bind this spirit, along with the spirit of perversion and seduction, but also bless them with a modest spirit and heart, moderation in their thoughts and lifestyle.  Bless them with a strong desire to seek after God and not after flesh.  Bless them with discipline in all their activities; bless them with the ability to govern self.  Bless them with respect and honor.  Bless them with modesty in clothing and speech.  Bless them with the conviction and desire to be moral.  Bless them with the ability to submit to God, His Word, and others.  Accountability is paramount with a person who is lascivious. 
 
Reading and Praying The Word:
Reading the word in daily prayer should be systematic as well as prompted by the Holy Spirit and thought.  In Jewish thought reading the word is considered prayer to God.  You will find as you read the word certain passages will catch your attention.  These are the passages you should meditate on and pray.  They will open many avenues of understanding and renewed ways to relate to God Himself.  The following is also advantages:

• Reading the Bible Through:  The yearly Bible, Our Daily Bread
• The greatest preachers read approximately 10 chapters per day
• Pray 2-6 hours per day

It is also interesting to note what the great Rabbi Chofetz Chaim says about the study of a subject:  “if one studies a subject intensely, the Name of the LORD removes the yetzer hora (evil inclination) from him with regard to that subject.”

Psalm 119:9 reads, “Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way—by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

John 8:31-32, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
 
Meditation:
Meditation means, “to speak to one self over and over again.”  It also falls into the category of chanting.  In Hebrew thought meditation was often made through song.  Songs were applied to scripture and sung over and over again.  This is still a main form of teaching today within the Jewish Communities.   King David attributed his entire relationship with God to Meditation and Prayer.  As a shepherd boy he meditated on God through nature.  As a King, he meditated on God’s word through his incessant study of the Torah (the first five books of Moses).  As King he was required to personally write the Torah twice.  I believe this accounted for the depth of knowledge and understanding that he gains about God as exhibited in the Psalms.  God promises that Meditation of His Word brings success.  As you read the Word daily, meditate on the passages that “catch your eye.”  Make those your daily mediation.  It is also expedient to meditate on passages from the book of Proverbs and Psalms. 
 
The Prayer Wheel goes full circle back to Thanksgiving and closing with praying in the Spirit (discussed above) and Singing in the Spirit (basically self-explanatory).  Praising God when you finish praying releases you from the depths of the burdens you may have acquired while praying.  Shouting to the LORD in “a voice of triumph” also holds a significant place in releasing a intercessory from the weight of a burden often manifest while praying.  
 
I personally learned how to pray through the use of a Prayer Wheel.