We can find out the difference between prayer and supplication by observing how the soul acts. When it wants anything in real earnest, there is supplication; a sense of need presses on it, and to be relieved of this need there is the dealing of the soul with God.
Prayer is more general; it embraces all that is upon my soul. Thus the temple was called the house of prayer, not of supplication merely. In prayer, the soul presents every consideration and interest before God, yet perhaps none of them assumes the character of supplication. However, the word supplication is constantly used conjointly with prayer. Perhaps prayer has more confidence in it. We read in James 5:1616Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) JND, “The fervent supplication of the righteous has much power,” but in the example given [Elijah’s prayer], it is said he prayed with prayer.
If we were presenting our whole case, cares, and blessings to God, we should expect to find peace and relief in our heart and mind; but if we had a pressing want, especially one for which we had no assurance of His consideration, then we would supplicate. On the other hand, if we had assurance as to the thing we needed, such as grace to fulfill the place to which He called me, then it would be prayer and not supplication. In this way there is often supplication first, and prayer after. Confession is a preliminary, for we must dispose of the cause of darkness before we can enjoy the happier services of the light. In doing this, the soul in prayer often travels from Luke 11 to 1 John 5. In Luke, we are learning or rather proving our resourceless condition; we have no other resource but God. In 1 John 5, it is rather, if we know that He hears us, we have the petitions that we desired of Him. This shows us the close and earnest dealing there must be between the soul and God, if we would know His mind.
The Answers
But then, there is no doubt that we are often mistaken in the true nature of our petitions; that is, we do not understand the right thing that would answer our petitions. For example, Paul may have been assured that his petitions were heard in asking that he might serve the Lord better after his arrest at Jerusalem, and his petition was answered, but not according to Paul’s thoughts. He might have reckoned on returning to active labors, whereas his services were really made greater through his epistles from prison. This shows how the true spiritual desire in the petition may be granted, yet in a form unlike that which we may have expected.
Praise
Praise is no doubt the highest point of prayer; after the soul has presented, and, so to speak, reviewed every possible interest before God, nothing remains for it but to praise Him. In this way David went in and sat before the Lord, and he praised as he prayed. There is no lively prayer without thanksgiving, and who can understand the way God provides for, and enters into, all our circumstances, together with the blessing and glory which He gives, without praise.
Words of Truth, Vol. 6 (adapted)