Ephesians 6:18 Saturdays - Petition

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

We have talked about prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, confession and repentance. Now we move on to the prayer of petition.

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6 Amplified

The best explanation of prayers of petition that I have read is from Dennis Wiedrick's book A Royal Priesthood:

Petition is a legal term that implies an approach to an authority to obtain certain provisions that are promised. Our relationship with God is guaranteed by Christ, and firmly rooted in a covenant - the New covenant of his Blood. When we pray the prayer of petition, we are not making a demand on a fickle person who is governed by either whim, or weather. Rather, we approach a covenant God who has sealed His promise with the very life of His Son. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) So we no longer need to try to earn God's favour, but simply come to Him on the merits of Christ's work at Calvary, and there, on the basis of this covenant, make our petition. These petitions are made, not in out own name, but in the name of Jesus.

Prayers of petition are specific, and as Dennis stated, they are requests for things that God has already promised.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV

Our heavenly Father loves us in more profound ways than we will ever be able to comprehend, and He asks us to come boldly before His throne. He is calling... even today... will you answer?