Prophetic Prayer: 5 Benefits and Types of Prophetic Prayer

What is Prophetic Prayer?

Have you ever been praying and wondered, ‘What does God think about this?’ In its simplest form, prophetic prayer is about conversing with God. It is not only talking to God about what is on your mind; it is listening to learn what is on His heart, and responding accordingly.

The prophetic aspect of prophetic prayer is that you can pray with revelation (prophetic insight) given to you by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has revealed something that you would not know by natural means—the Father’s purpose and intent—and that knowledge is assisting your prayer.

Types of Prophetic Prayer

‘I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.’ (Hab 2:1)

There are a variety of forms that prophetic prayer can take, for example:

• You have received a prophetic insight before you prayed, such as a personal prophecy or prophetic guidance, and are now using it to pray. Perhaps God has spoken to you about something, and you are following that up with prayer.

• The Holy Spirit is directing you while you are praying. You become aware that your prayer has shifted up a level. The Spirit guides your prayer’s direction and gives you insight concerning how and what to pray.

• You are engaged in listening prayer, taking time specifically to hear what God is saying to you.

• Prophetic prayer can occur in many contexts, such as praying for someone in a personal ministry situation, interceding, or simply conversing with God.

• Prophetic prayer can be intentional, or it can happen spontaneously as the Holy Spirit leads you in prayer.

5 Benefits of Prophetic Prayer.

Prophetic prayer is powerful. The following are 5 benefits of prophetic prayer to encourage you in your prayer life:

1. Prophetic Prayer Fosters Your Intimate Relationship with God

‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’ (2 Cor 13:14)

Prophetic prayer helps our intimate relationship with God. We lean in closely to hear His voice. That place of fellowship with the Holy Spirit is where we receive revelation and hear what is on God’s heart and mind.

2. It Helps You Pray with Authority and Faith

‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.’ (1 John 5:14-15)

When the Holy Spirit gives us insight on how to pray and what God’s plans are, it empowers us to pray with faith. It adds an authoritative edge to our prayer. We can use prophetic revelation given by the Holy Spirit to make bold proclamations and prophetic decrees.

3. You are Praying in Agreement with God’s Purposes

‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Matt 6:10)

When the Holy Spirit has given us insight as to what God is up to and how to pray, we can pray in agreement with Him. (Rom 8:26-27) Prophetic prayer is a powerful means of partnering with God for the fulfillment of His plans.

It is important to remember, however, that all prophetic insights—including those received in prayer—are subject to being weighed up.

4. Prophetic Prayer Facilitates Miracles

‘Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.’ (James 5:17-18)

Prophetic prayer facilitates the miraculous. Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). He took insights received in the place of prayer to carry out the Father’s plans in His daily life and ministry. (Luke 6:12-13)

Prophetic prayer is the foundation of a supernatural lifestyle.

5. Prophetic Prayer Helps Sharpen Your Prophetic Gift

 ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ (John 10:27)

You do not have to have the gift of prophecy to use prophetic prayer. Any Spirit-filled Christian can pray prophetically. As sons and daughters, our Father wants to have a relationship; He wants to speak to each of us.

In Acts 9, Luke records a conversation that a man called Ananias had with God. Ananias was not an apostle or prophet—simply a disciple. And yet his prophetic prayer caused him to walk into the pages of the New Testament and be used by God to bring Saul, later the Apostle Paul, into baptism and to confirm his call from God. (see Acts 9:10-19)

If you do have a prophetic gift, however, prophetic prayer is a great way to develop and grow your gift of prophecy. Not only do you grow in confidence in hearing God’s voice, but you can also take insights that He has given to you in the place of prayer and share them with others.

Which benefits of prophetic prayer have you experienced or would like to explore more of? I would love to hear about it in the blog comments section below.

Related Posts

The Power of Prophetic Prayer

The Power of Your Prophetic Decree

© 2016 Helen Calder   Enliven Blog

Enliven Ministries: Prophetic ministry for a revival generation

Helen Calder

Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.