How to Pray

For people who already have a relationship with God, knowing how to pray seems to be a pretty common sense task. However, people who haven't learned to talk with God often are afraid to approach him in the wrong way. They may feel ashamed and too unworthy to trouble Him with their problems.

Jesus Taught People How to Pray

Luckily, those who struggle with how to pray can get an answer straight from the source. In Matthew Chapter 6, Jesus spells out the answer as He speaks to the crowd who gathered to hear Him. He urges them to find a private spot and to shut themselves in alone to speak to God. He also tells them to avoid repeating themselves over and over. Then, He points out that God knows what we need before we ask. In case people don't clearly understand His explanation of how to pray, Jesus goes on to give an example which many people still use today as their only prayer - The Lord's Prayer.

Does this mean it is the only prayer people should offer? No. Jesus utters His own, very different prayer in the KJV of Matthew 26:39, shortly before His crucifixion, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

He also instructs the disciples to pray that they "don't enter into temptation" in the KJV of Luke 22:40, which shows that Jesus is not the only one who should sometimes use different words when praying.

How to Pray in Your Own Words

This is the point where many people begin to feel uncertain. They ask, "How do I pray?" There are many different ways to pray, but here are a few step by step guidelines to get you started:

1. If possible, show respect by finding a quiet spot to pray. If there isn't time to look for a spot, don't let that hinder you. When Jesus spoke of finding a closet to pray in, He did so after warning people not to pray loudly to impress others.
2. Next, let God know you are coming to Him in prayer. Afraid to start? Think about how you begin any conversation. "Dad, I need help." You address people by name to let them know you are talking to them and Jesus did the same thing in His prayers by simply saying, "Oh my Father," or "Our Father."
3. Speak your prayer from your heart. Don't worry if you don't have a big vocabulary and flowery language. Just talk to Him simply and respectfully. "Lord, I am so sick. Please heal my body."
4. Say things once. God is not hard of hearing! Remember, Jesus actually warned that people shouldn't be repetitious. Think about how you feel when someone begs and nags for something. "Please, Mom. Please. Why not? Please. Say yes. Why can't I?" It gets old fast and you heard him or her the first time! Now, that doesn't mean you can't ever bring it up again, but it does mean you shouldn't repeat it over and over in the same prayer!
5. End your prayer with a praise or a statement that shows that you understand that God is in control. It doesn't have to be elaborate. Many people simply say, "In Jesus name, Amen."

While praying can seem overwhelming at first, taking that first step and beginning to pray usually helps people overcome their fear and worry of messing up. Jesus provided a wonderful example that we call The Lord's Prayer and talked several times about how to pray throughout the New Testament.