The Laws of Prayer by Peter Tan [Summary] 

Main Summary: The Laws of Prayer by Peter Tan reveals how prayer operates through multiple distinct types and styles, each designed for specific situations. Understanding these differences unlocks spiritual breakthroughs, transforms circumstances, and deepens intimate union with God through biblical patterns of prayer.

Lessons You’ll Learn From This Post 

• The Right Way to Pray
• Various Types of Prayers
• The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise
• Styles of Prayer
• Waiting on God

“The problem with Christians who have no answer to their prayers is that their prayers are not a representation of Jesus Christ, although they mouth the words ‘in Jesus’ Name.’”

The Right Way to Pray

• The successful Christian is the one who succeeds in prayer, regardless of their ministry calling. 
• Jesus Himself depended on prayer for His mission; He spent whole nights in prayer before major decisions. 
• Official prayer must be directed to the Father, not to Jesus or the Holy Spirit (though fellowship with Them is fine). 
• Jesus taught disciples to pray to the Father and always prayed to the Father Himself. 
• Praying in Jesus’ Name means approaching God as if Jesus Himself were praying. 
• Using Jesus’ Name requires that your prayers represent His will and person. 
• Through your union with Christ in death and resurrection, you share His access to the Father. 
• The Father never says “No” to a request made in Jesus’ Name that truly represents Him. 
• The secret to effective prayer is fellowshipping with God before making requests. 

When a bulldog takes a bite, it will not let go of its prey at all. It locks its jaws onto its victim. We should lock ourselves into an intense determination that will not let go until we have the object of our intercession.”

Various Types of Prayers

• There are different prayers for different situations. Paul speaks of praying with “all prayer” and “every kind of prayer” because each type works in different circumstances. 
• The Prayer of faith Functions to possess God’s promises; these promises must be based on the written Word of God; it never includes the word “if”. 
• Three tenses in faith prayer – Present tense (when you pray), past perfect tense (believe you HAVE received), future tense (you WILL have them). 
• If you have to pray seven times to receive, six times were in unbelief. 
• It’s your role to watch your words. Between praying and receiving, success depends on what you say; call those things which be not as though they were. 
• The Prayer of Dedication brings total surrender to God’s will; it is perfectly alright to use the word “if”. 
• Set your will to neutral. In areas where God’s Word is silent, position yourself to accept either “Yes” or “No” from God. 
• The Prayer of Intercession is specifically for others; 
• Three keys to intercession – Clear objective (identify with the subject), persistent tenacity (bull-dog determination), praying in the Spirit. 
• The Prayer of Agreement – Multiplies the power of faith prayer; when two agree, one puts a thousand to flight, two put ten thousand. 
• There is what is called the symphony of agreement. The Greek word “symphoneo” means total harmony, like a musical symphony without discord. 
• The Prayer of Travail involves groaning in the Spirit; it gives birth to souls in God’s kingdom. 
• Praying in tongues is like a sports car vs. a bicycle; groaning in the Spirit is like praying in tongues at a thousand miles an hour. 
• Travail requires entering prayer ministry with intense determination that will not let go. 

Our voices were originally designed as organs of worship. They were brought to this low level after the fall of man… The highest design of the human voice is not just to communicate.”

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise

• Thanksgiving and praise must accompany every other type of prayer; without them, there is no entrance into God’s throne. 
• The Altar of Incense represents praise and worship in the Tabernacle; the high priest had to have incense covering him, or he would die entering God’s presence. 
• God dwells in praise. He manifests His presence when we praise Him; His glory would kill us without the covering of praise
• God withholds His full presence out of mercy; praise provides the covering that allows us to enter His presence safely. 
• Three levels of adoration – Thanksgiving (for His works), Praise (for who He is), Worship (response to His presence). 
• We can offer thanksgiving for what we believe God will do, not just for what He has done. 
• Those who know only God’s works won’t be great intercessors; we must know His character and attributes
• Thanksgiving and praise bring God’s manifestation; worship is our love communion with Him in that manifested presence
• The call to worship stands far above the call to ministry; even archangel Gabriel is first a worshiper, then a messenger
• Worship in the Spirit, which is in new tongues, gives us instant access to deep worship beyond mental limitations
• Human vocal cords were originally created as instruments of worship, not just communication
• Eight benefits of worship – Makes God more important than things; shrinks problems; increases receptivity to God’s Word; tunes ears to hear God; causes spiritual growth; defeats Satan; activates angels; demonstrates love for God
• We need organized praise chains, not just prayer chains; years of continuous praise would create heaven on earth

Unless we pray as Jesus prayed, we cannot live as Jesus lived nor do the works that Jesus did. 

Styles of Prayer

• Corporate Prayer Brings the full resources of the church together; the early church was strong in united, one-accord prayer. 
• Corporate prayer requires submission to recognized leadership; unity is impossible without it. 
• Leaders must earn submission through faithful example, not by demanding it or domineering. 
• Those praying together must be of one heart and one soul; the 120 in the upper room prayed united for the Holy Spirit. 
• It is important to have an organized chain prayer that maintains continuous intercession over the same objective. 
• Constant prayer allows an item to be “prayed through” until a breakthrough comes. 
• We wrestle with wicked spirits in heavenly places who try to prevent answers from manifesting. 
• Fasting and prayer multiply the intensity of prayer and demonstrate a desire for answers above daily food. 
• Taking authority over certain demonic forces requires fasting and prayer; Jesus linked faith, fasting, and spiritual battles. 
• Daniel’s example reveals that twenty-one days of fasting shook satanic power over an entire kingdom and brought archangels to help. 
• Fasting opens our ears to hear God’s voice; the Antioch church received direction while fasting. 
• Jesus regularly prayed through the night; He spent whole nights seeking the Father’s guidance. 
• Avoid sleep-prone postures. In overnight prayer, position yourself to stay alert and awake. 
• Jesus told disciples to pray so they wouldn’t enter temptation; the prayerful avoid many unnecessary problems. 

Waiting on God is not just waiting to receive or to serve; it is staying in His presence, seeking to be bound in perfect union together. Times of waiting should be times of intimate bonding to the Lord, where He abides in us and we abide in Him.

Waiting on God

• Waiting on God is related to prayer yet stands alone as a distinct form of spiritual development. 
• No Christian lives in God’s perfect will without learning to wait on Him; many only accomplish His permissive will. 
• Life operates in cycles: waiting, flying (mounting up), running, walking, then waiting again. 
• Satan attacks in cycles. The evil day comes and goes; Satan cannot attack unceasingly but plans his attacks in cycles. 
• Five Hebrew words for “wait” – Each carries a distinct meaning: earnest waiting (chakah), silent waiting (dumiyyah), standing still (daman), serving (tsaba), and hoping/bound together (qavah). 
• The word “qavah” in Isaiah 40 means “to be gathered together” or “to be bound” in perfect union with God. 
• Waiting on God isn’t primarily about receiving blessings or getting marching orders; it’s about intimate bonding. 
• Four aspects of renewal – The Hebrew word “chalaph” reveals what happens when we wait: (1) sharp edges removed, (2) strength exchanged, (3) vision to go forward, (4) spiritual growth. 
• Jesus’ works came from His union with the Father; through waiting, we tap into the same resources. 
• Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices means becoming bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. 
• Renewal is not just refreshing; it’s replacement—our strength for His strength. 
• The Greek word “metamorphosis” (transfiguration) describes what happens through renewal; Stephen’s face shone like an angel. 
• As we behold God’s glory and bind ourselves to Him, we are transformed from glory to glory. 
• This process transfigures spirit, soul, body, and even garments. 

Now that you understand the different types and styles of prayer, examine your current prayer life. Which type have you neglected? Begin practicing one new prayer style this week and watch how your spiritual breakthroughs multiply.

Finally, here is a question we’d love you to answer.

Have you ever prayed and wondered why your answer didn’t come, only to discover you were using the wrong type of prayer for your situation?

We would love to hear from you. Please leave your answer and comment in the comment box below.

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