Understanding how to pray helps us align our desires with God’s will, bringing our hearts into harmony with His purpose.
One of the most effective ways to get to know God and have an encounter with Him every day is through prayer.
But all too frequently, many see prayer as if it were a “magic formula.”
Some think God will ignore their prayers if they aren’t structured correctly or if they don’t utter certain words.
But there is no single right way to pray to God.
Praying entails a humble, sincere, and reverent heart.
What is the Importance of Knowing How to Pray?
Praying is a spiritual discipline essential to a believer’s life
Christians interact with God and grow in their relationship with Him through prayer.
As a spiritual discipline, it fortifies a Christian’s faith and character.
Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual walk and individual discipleship.
It is a means of receiving direction, healing, strength, and wisdom.
To strengthen our faith
Prayers provide a way to strengthen and endure faith, whether we’re facing doubt, hardship, or the need to refresh our faith.
As we embrace prayer’s enormous potential to build our faith, we set out on a mission to reinforce our spiritual foundation through sincere and intentional prayer.
Align our desires with God’s will.
Through prayer and, ultimately, God’s grace, we pattern our wants to those of God and bring our will into harmony with His.
There are many temptations to be of the world, to abandon our faith and choose to serve ourselves, and to satiate our fleshly desires.
Prayer becomes our anchor to always plug into God’s strength so that we can turn away from temptation and say no to evil.
The Lord hears us if we ask Him anything by His will.
We will get the answers we need if we are confident that He listens to our prayers.
To grow in and strengthen our intimacy with the Lord
We can only nurture a relationship by communicating and spending time together.
This truth applies even to our relationship with the Lord.
Being close to God is a wonderful and powerful experience.
Having such a personal encounter with the heavenly love of our Creator is a tremendous blessing and miracle.
A simple and accessible yet powerful way to strengthen our relationship with God is to commit ourselves to praying daily.
To remember Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection
The true meaning of prayer lies in remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection was a one-time event but still has a constant and resounding impact on eternity.
Prayer is a perpetual celebration of the truth that we, too, have the power to overcome death and enjoy eternal life because of and through Jesus.
What Does the Bible Say about How to Pray?
Mark 11:24
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Acts 1:14
All these, with one accord, were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
6 Helpful Tips on How to Pray
Prayer is communicating with God and is possible because of Jesus.
Praying is essentially talking to God.
As we approach God in prayer by speaking to and praising Him, He also draws near to us, fulfilling His promise.
The essence of prayer remains constant, which is a conversation with God, regardless of its various forms.
When we pray, we also have to remember that our access to God was made possible only because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus reconciled us with God, allowing us to be adopted sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5) who could call on our Father through prayer anytime and anywhere.
Know that God hears your prayer.
The assurance that God hears our prayers is based on His promise to love and not forsake us.
When we pray, we do not speak words to the abyss.
At the end of every word we utter in prayer is the God who loves us and wants what’s best for us.
But sometimes, He doesn’t respond the way we expect or desire.
In such situations, we must remain surrendered, reflecting on and remembering God’s faithfulness and love for us and praying unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
Have a reverent, grateful, and humble heart.
The Lord sees the posture of our hearts and not whether we sit, stand, or kneel when we pray.
Though we can present ourselves in a specific manner among others, we cannot hide from God.
He knows our intentions and motivations.
Therefore, when we pray, we must do so with gratitude, reverence, and humility.
By this, we become ready to be honest about our sins and requests.
In doing this, we become open vessels to receive God’s response, grace, and blessings.
Be intentional and consistent in praying.
A life of regular prayer not only strengthens our intimacy with the Lord but also brings about peace, insight, and purpose.
Forming a habit of prayer takes dedication and discipline.
To help you do this, create a schedule so as not to neglect or forget it during the routine and rigors of daily life.
Do not overthink it
Overthinking can become an ongoing mental battle in this fast-paced and demanding world, and this overthinking can also affect how we pray.
We can be overwhelmed with planning, thinking of the correct way to go about it, what to say, etc.
But God isn’t after a perfect prayer but after your humble and God-fearing heart.
There is no prescribed form or manner of prayer, so you can use your honest and open words to go before God.
Pray with expectation
One approach to bringing our worries, concerns, and wishes to God—and knowing that He hears and answers them—is to pray and expect His blessings and miracles to happen.
When we pray expecting God to hear and answer our prayers, we show that we believe in His power and promise to sustain and provide for us (Psalm 130:5).
Knowing that no one and nothing can outdo God’s mercies, grace, compassion, and love encourages us to pray with expectation and hope.
When and Where to Pray?
Some believe that there is a suitable place and time to pray.
Although there can be particular places and schedules that individuals feel more focused on when praying, there is no one way to do it.
No matter where or when we pray, God always hears us.
It makes no difference when or where we pray as long as we come to the throne of grace humbly and sincerely.
Instead, the place of our hearts matters most when we pray.
Pray whenever we need to feel His love’s transforming power.
Pray wherever we feel convicted to do so.
We can say a thousand prayers a day at different times and places.
The God who hears our prayers is always there and will not change.
Meaningful Ways How to Pray to God
Follow A.C.T.S.
The acronym A.C.T.S. teaches us to begin our prayers with ADORATION for God, then CONFESS our sins, REPENT, and give THANKS for all His blessings.
Lastly, we submit our SUPPLICATION, requests, and pleas before Him.
The A.C.T.S. prayer form is based on a biblical model that is consistent with how prayer is modeled in Holy Scripture.
We can pray using the A.C.T.S. format to overcome overthinking, intimidation, or uncertainty about how to pray to God.
Praying with purpose and intentionality can become easier with this strategy.
Memorize and pray Scripture.
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes cementing God’s word in our hearts and minds.
In a world of false teaching, erroneous interpretations, and attractive temptations, one must absorb what God’s word says.
In an information-loaded time, we consume so much every day.
But when we memorize God’s word, we have everything we need in our spiritual walk.
There is power when we pray Scripture, declaring God’s promises and solidifying our trust in Him and His word.
Close in the Name of Jesus
Jesus has pried open the gate to heaven for us, and His beautiful name has the power against the enemy.
Because of His great sacrifice, we can come to God and speak with Him one-on-one.
God’s promises are revealed and fulfilled in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
We don’t add the phrase “In Jesus’ Name” to our prayers as a magic word to make God answer them.
God listens to our prayers because of Jesus Christ, the only Way and Mediator to God.
Jesus also intercedes for us.
Pray privately, alone, and with others.
It is essential to take the time for ourselves and pray privately to focus on our deepest personal intentions.
But the truth is, when we pray, we unite as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Prayer, too, is a weapon wielded against the enemy.
While quiet reflection is necessary, prayer also offers the opportunity to participate in the fellowship of the saints.
The reason is that no Christian walks the spiritual walk alone.
Write and keep a prayer journal.
Keeping a prayer journal is one way to have a more personal relationship with God.
You can write down your intentions, supplication, insights, and realizations as a spiritual practice.
You can also jot down the ways the Lord answered your prayer.
It will, then, serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to and sustenance for you.
Pay attention to how God answers your prayer.
When we pray, God sometimes responds “Yes,” but other times He says “Wait” or even “No,” and that’s because He knows what is best for us.
God’s responses to our prayers are always according to His perfect wisdom, plan, and purpose.
When we do not understand the reasons behind God’s ways, we are to trust that He will lead us to the path that satisfies His glory and will, which also translates to our protection and ultimate good.
Conclusion
Praying is our one-on-one communication with our Father in heaven.
Genuine connection and effective communication are the cornerstones of any great relationship, including our relationship with God.
God takes great pleasure and is glorified when we approach Him with a pure, repentant, humble, and eager heart.
God cares about our thoughts and feelings because He values us.
As we establish a regular prayer routine, we will begin to discern God’s voice and His desires for us.
It’s best not to worry too much about specifics whenever we pray.
God is infinitely loving, infinitely more so than we are, and He has infinite time and presence on His hands to be with us through prayer.
