How To Pray

“Please pray for me.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this request from people over the years. I’ve asked the same of others many times.

It’s comforting to seek prayer support in times of personal difficulty or need. And praying for others is an important part of our spiritual privilege and responsibility.

Prayer is a key part of being a follower of Jesus. Jesus prayed, and He taught us to pray. God’s people are to be known as prayer people!

While we understand the importance of prayer, we often feel we’re not doing enough of it or not doing it well. We sometimes wonder if our prayers are actually making a difference or whether we’re praying the right way.

Our prayer struggles can be largely resolved by a better understanding of prayer and by simplifying the prayer process. Prayer isn’t a complicated thing. It doesn’t require great spiritual maturity or experience. It’s something a child can do. You can do it too!

Jesus gave us a clear and simple prayer process. Look at His instructions:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” — Matthew 6:6-13 (NIV)

Jesus taught us how to pray. Here are a few thoughts about prayer from Jesus’ teaching:

• Be confident when you pray. Prayer is always rewarded. No prayers are wasted or insignificant.

• Set a regular time to pray. Jesus said, “when you pray.” It’s extremely helpful to set a consistent schedule for prayer. Have a time “when you pray” each day.

• Have a personal place of prayer. Choose a consistent, designated “prayer place” that’s private and free from distractions. You’re able to focus better on your time with God when you have “your place.” This place may be your car or a “prayer closet” in your home. It’s very helpful to find a consistent, personal place of prayer.

• Don’t worry about having the right words when you pray; just have the right heart. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day tried to impress God and others with their religious words and lengthy prayers. Jesus encouraged us to be ourselves in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Talk to Him from your heart.

• Follow a simple prayer pattern. Don’t overcomplicate prayer.

• Begin with thanksgiving and praise to God.

• Pray for your life actions, attitudes, and decisions to align with God’s will fully. Give the control of your life to God. Ask the Lord to lovingly rule your life and the lives of others you love.

• Tell God about the things you’re worried about, have need of, or request from Him. Bring the needs of others to God in prayer as well.

• Spend a few minutes of quiet reflection, asking God to reveal any sin in your life that needs to be confessed and forgiven. Ask Him to show you any resentments, grudges, or unforgiveness you carry that need to be released. Confess your sins to God, accept His forgiveness, and quickly forgive anyone you need to forgive.

• Pray for yourself and others close to you to see and overcome temptations and stand strong in times of testing and trouble.

• Pray in ever-enlarging concentric circles of connections, starting with yourself, your family, your friends, and any others you have promised to pray for or know are in need of prayer.

• Pray for an annulment and desisting of any and all devilish and demonic activity in your life and the lives of those you’re praying for.

• Conclude by giving God thanks and praise for listening and answering your prayers in His timing and way.

Here’s another helpful reminder. You don’t have to pray long prayers or for a long time to pray effectively. There certainly are seasons when we experience and enjoy spending extended, unhurried time with God. However, never underestimate the power of short prayers. Many of the great prayers in the Bible are short but powerful prayers.

In addition to your daily prayer time, keep an ongoing prayer dialogue with God during your day. He’s with you and is available to listen anytime!

Expect God to work in fresh, amazing, and miraculous ways in your life and the lives of others through your prayers!