David Diga Hernandez - The 7 Realms of Prayer

It’s time to go to higher places in your prayer life. Whether you’re just beginning your prayer journey or you’re a seasoned believer who understands the depths of prayer, it’s time to go deeper. It’s time to ascend to greater heights. I want to talk to you about the seven realms of prayer. I want you to publicly declare this; make it a public comment, a public prayer. Write this in the comment section right now: three simple words: «Take me higher.» If you’re ready for the Lord to elevate you to greater heights in the realms of prayer, now is the time.

When I talk about the seven realms of prayer, I’m not referring to different worlds or dimensions; it’s actually quite simple. By «realms of prayer,» I mean the different realities of prayer, the various facets of prayer. We begin with number one: adoration. John 4:24 says, «For God is spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.» Prayer, at its core, is a simple interaction with God, and one way we do this is through worship. True worship is born of spirit and truth. What does that mean? All genuine worship is a response to revelation. You can sing without a revelation; you can dance without a revelation; you can clap and jump up and down without a revelation. But you can’t truly worship without revelation.

Revelation comes from truth—knowing the Word, knowing Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit begins to reveal Jesus to us, we start to see the truth, and our being responds to that truth by the Spirit. That is where worship is born; it is your being responding to God’s being. It is giving God glory; as you see God’s glory, you begin to reflect that marvelous light. When you capture a glimpse of His glory, everything in you, everything about your being, begins to cry out in praise and worship.

Often, believers struggle to find the words to initiate that prayer moment. This is where worship is such a powerful tool in your prayer life. When you don’t know what to pray, worship. Just begin to adore Him; begin to respond to Him. Sometimes, worship can simply be the intensity of our attention. What we focus on, we begin to obsess over, and obsession can be a form of worship. I don’t know about you, but I am obsessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. So, worship is that first realm; it’s an important component of prayer, and it helps to break through the fog when you don’t know where to go. You start in stillness, you begin to worship Him, adore Him, and focus on Him, pulling you into greater realms of glory.

Number one is adoration. Number two is supplication, which simply means presenting prayer requests or asking God for help. Philippians 4:6-7 says, «Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.» Worry is how your flesh prays; worry is a pointless, powerless attempt at control. Instead of worrying, pray about everything. Notice here that the Scripture instructs you to tell God what you need while thanking Him for what you have.

There’s a misconception—a religious idea—that tells us we ought not to ask God for anything. «Don’t ask God for anything; don’t ask Him to bless you; don’t ask Him for a job; don’t ask Him for financial help; don’t ask Him to bless your marriage or your family.» That’s just nonsense. The Scripture tells us that we ought to present our prayer requests to God. Of course, we must balance this idea by recognizing that it’s not all about blessings or material gain; it’s not all about the things of this world. But the Scripture makes it clear that God does want us to present our prayer requests to Him. In fact, it is these requests that make it easier to pray because, as verse 7 tells us, we will experience God’s peace.

When I unburden myself by giving Him all my prayer requests, when I relay to Him all my concerns and worries, when I pass to Him the list—at least for the moment of prayer—of all the things I need to do in life and just surrender them to Him, I become free. I become liberated. The weights of the world begin to fall away; the tethers that bind me to the cares of this earth start to tear, and I am lifted to higher places, filled with the peace of God. When you begin to submit your prayer requests to God, you’re placing your concerns in His hands. So yes, make that prayer list, pray for your loved ones, and pray for your needs while also maintaining a posture of gratitude as the Scripture commands.

What begins to happen when you unburden yourself is that the chaos within you begins to calm. You’re no longer worried about all the distractions that keep you from focusing on prayer, and then that peace fills your heart. Watch this: that peace fills your heart and initiates the depth of prayer. Here’s where most believers make their biggest mistake: they come to the Lord and give Him their prayer…