How Do I Pray?

How do I pray?

God tells us to pray. This is what a Christian does. Prayer is what makes us a unique and committed people of God. Look at these statements about prayer in the New Testament:

• Devote yourself to prayer (Col. 4:2)

• Pray continually (I Thess. 5:16)

• Pray in every situation (Phil. 4:6)

• Be constant in prayer (Rom. 12:12)

• Call to Me and I will answer you (Jer. 33:3)

• Pray for one another (Jam 5:16)

There are many more, but you get the idea. We are told to pray. So, what if you don't know how to pray?

Prayer is the easiest of things and yet it is the hardest of things. At its core, prayer is simply a conversation with God. We tell God what is on our minds and we wait for Him to respond. Talking to God is the easy part. Just start by telling God what is on your heart. He is listening, even if you can’t see Him.

It's best to read the Bible along with your praying. It focuses your mind and heart on God. The Bible is called “God’s Word because it is the other part of the conversation. We are listening to God when we read His Word.

The best way to learn how to prayer is by doing it. Dick Eastman, in his book No Easy Road, says it like this, "The only place to learn prayer is IN prayer ... bent and broken on our knees."

So, get to it. Go pray and read the Bible. It's as easy as that! I recommend that you start with reading a Psalm each day before you pray. The first 50 Psalms are all perfect for this.

Psalms 5:3

"In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch."