How
Should We Pray to God?
Prayer
is a way of communicating with God, expressing worship, gratitude, repentance,
and requests. The Bible provides guidance on how to pray effectively.
1.
Pray with Sincerity and Faith
Jesus
taught that prayer should come from the heart, not for show (Matthew 6:5-6).
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly
We
should have faith that God hears and answers prayers (Mark 11:24, Hebrews
11:6).
Mark
11:24 King James Version
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Hebrews
11:6 King James Version
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
2.
Pray in the Name of Jesus
Jesus
said, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will
do" (John 14:13-14).
Praying
in His name means aligning with His will and authority.
3.
Follow the Lord’s Prayer as a Model (Matthew 6:9-13)
Worship:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your
name."
Submission
to God's Will: "Your kingdom come, Your will be
done."
Dependence
on God: "Give us this day our daily
bread."
Forgiveness:
"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors."
Guidance
and Protection: "Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."
4.
Pray with Thanksgiving
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God." (Philippians 4:6)
5.
Confess Your Sins
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us." (1 John 1:9)
6.
Pray Persistently and Without Ceasing
"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians
5:17)
Jesus
encouraged persistent prayer
“1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought
always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither
regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying,
Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within
himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by
her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night
unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when
the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
(Luke
18:1-8).
7.
Pray in the Spirit
"Praying at all times in the Spirit."
(Ephesians 6:18)
8.
Pray for Others
"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings be made for all people." (1 Timothy 2:1)
9.
Pray with Humility
The
Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 prayed with pride, while the tax collector prayed
humbly and was justified.
“9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and
the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even
as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as
his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me
a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
How
to Develop a Consistent Prayer Life
Building
a consistent prayer life takes discipline, sincerity, and a heart devoted to
God.
1.
Set a Regular Prayer Time
Choose
a specific time each day for prayer (morning, evening, or both).
Follow
Jesus’ example—He often prayed early in the morning (Mark 1:35).
"35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he
went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Keep
it flexible but consistent.
2.
Find a Quiet Place
Jesus
advised praying in a private place (Matthew 6:6).
"6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when
thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Avoid
distractions—turn off your phone or any noise that might interrupt your focus.
3.
Use the ACTS Method (A Simple Prayer Guide)
This
method helps structure your prayers:
A –
Adoration: Worship God for who He is (Psalm 95:6).
"6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the
Lord our maker."
C –
Confession: Ask for forgiveness for sins (1 John 1:9).
"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
T –
Thanksgiving: Express gratitude for blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
"18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you."
S –
Supplication: Present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).
"6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
4.
Pray with Scripture
Use
the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), or other Bible verses.
Personalize
the Scriptures by turning them into prayers.
5.
Keep a Prayer Journal
Write
down your prayers, requests, and how God answers them.
This
helps you see spiritual growth and increases faith.
6.
Pray Throughout the Day
Talk
to God as you go about your daily activities (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
"17 Pray without ceasing."
Short
prayers throughout the day keep you connected with Him.
7.
Pray with Others
Join
a prayer group or pray with family members (Matthew 18:20).
"20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Praying
with others strengthens faith and accountability.
8.
Be Patient and Trust God's Timing
God
answers prayers in His way and time (Isaiah 55:8-9).
"8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Keep
trusting even if answers don’t come immediately.
9.
Ask the Holy Spirit to Help You Pray
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness... the Spirit himself
intercedes for us." (Romans 8:26)
When
you don’t know what to pray, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
10.
Stay Away from Distractions
Social
media, TV, and worries can hinder prayer.
Make
a conscious effort to prioritize time with God.
Daily
& Weekly Prayer Plan to help you stay consistent in your prayer life.
Daily
Prayer Plan
Morning
(Start Your Day with God)
Scripture:
Psalm 5:3 – “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my
requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Adoration
– Praise God for who He is.
Thanksgiving
– Thank Him for a new day and His blessings.
Surrender
– Offer your plans and decisions to Him.
Guidance
– Ask for wisdom and strength for the day ahead.
Example:
“Lord, I praise You for Your goodness. Thank You for this new day. Guide my
steps and help me glorify You in all I do.”
Midday
(Stay Connected with God)
Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
Quick
check-in with God – Thank Him for the morning, ask for help with any
challenges.
Pray
for others – Lift up a family member, friend, or someone in need.
Confession
– Reflect on any shortcomings and ask for forgiveness.
Example:
“Father, thank You for Your presence today. I pray for (name) who needs Your
comfort. Forgive me for (specific sin), and help me do better.”
Evening
(End Your Day in God’s Presence)
Scripture:
Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for
You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Thanksgiving
– Reflect on God’s goodness throughout the day.
Confession
& Repentance – Ask God for forgiveness and strength to improve.
Pray
for Tomorrow – Ask for rest, peace, and strength for the next day.
Example:
“Lord, thank You for guiding me today. Forgive my shortcomings. Please grant
me restful sleep and prepare my heart for tomorrow.”
Weekly
Prayer Focus
Monday –
Personal Growth
Pray
for wisdom, patience, and strength.
Ask
God to shape your character.
Tuesday
– Family & Loved Ones
Lift
up your family, spouse, children, and friends.
Pray
for their protection, faith, and needs.
Wednesday
– Church & Spiritual Leaders
Pray
for your pastor, church, and missionaries.
Ask
for God’s guidance in their ministries.
Thursday
– Nation & World
Pray
for your country, leaders, and global peace.
Ask
for God’s intervention in crises and conflicts.
Friday
– Forgiveness & Healing
Seek
healing in relationships, both spiritual and physical.
Ask
for a heart of forgiveness.
Saturday
– The Needy & Lost
Pray
for the poor, sick, and those struggling.
Lift
up non-believers and ask for opportunities to share the gospel.
Sunday
– Praise & Worship
Spend
extra time worshiping and thanking God.
Reflect
on His goodness and the week’s blessings.
May
your prayer life be strong and fulfilling. God bless!
