Prayer: What It is & How to Do It

When you’re together with a very close friend, what happens? What do you do? First, you’re happy to see them and may even give them a great big bear hug! Once you’ve reconnected, you and your friend start talking with one another about a wide range of topics, or you may focus on one or two specific topics. Either way, you are happy to see your friend and focus on them as you visit together. What an amazing time you have! But what does this have to do with prayer? 

You may be surprised to learn that this is pretty much what prayer is like. As Christians, we’re called to pray regularly; however, new believers may struggle with prayer. It’s not always an easy concept or activity for everyone. 

Prayer comes naturally to some but can be intimidating to others. If you find yourself among the latter, it’s OK. You don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed. Prayer can be difficult when you first start out or if your walk with the Lord has become challenging. Don’t despair if you’re having trouble connecting to God through prayer. 

In this post, we’ll review what prayer is and what the Bible has to say about prayer. 

What is Prayer? 

The concept of prayer can be challenging. How do you define something that’s of the spirit? It seems ethereal to us humans who currently live in the here and now. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult or ethereal. 

Remember the opening of this post? How do you feel when you see your close friend? This is what prayer is all about. It’s the connection between you and your heavenly Father. It’s the joy of meeting Him in prayer, talking with Him, and listening to Him. Prayer is like sharing a hug and visiting with your closest friend. 

Prayer is a connection and conversation with the One who is closer to us than anyone can be. It’s talking to God on a personal level. You can talk to Him about anything and everything. Prayer is turning your attention and intention to God, our Father. 

God wants to spend time with you, too! He longs for each of us to come to Him in prayer, as it says in John 16:24 NKJV, "Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." 

There's a certain joy that comes once you've started praying to God on a regular basis. Do you always feel that joy? No, to be honest. There are days and times when it can be a struggle to pray. This has more to do with what we're going through, how we feel (maybe sick and tired), etc. Even so, God is always ready to spend time with you in prayer, Bible study, and all through your day. 

If this is what prayer is all about, why is it so difficult? 

What Makes Prayer So Difficult? 

There are many reasons prayer can feel so challenging, but first, it’s crucial to understand that you’re not alone. Many people find it hard to pray, even believers who have had a personal relationship with God for many years. Really? Yes, it’s true. 

If you’re a new believer, prayer can feel pretty intimidating. You may feel that you’re too sinful to approach God in prayer. You may fear connecting with God in such a close way. Or you may feel you don’t know how to pray. These and other reasons are common in the beginning. It’s OK, you’re not alone. 

It can also be hard to find time to pray in our busy modern lives. Or maybe you’re not sure what to say. Then there are the “dry” times that come to long-time belivers. Others may feel hurt or mad at God and not want to pray. You may feel too tired, too. Perhaps you feel it’s not worth bothering God with your small requests or troubles. You’re not alone. 

There are also people who feel stricken with deep emotions when they try to pray to God. These emotions may be grief, deep pain, or shame. During these times, prayer can seem almost impossible. You’re not alone. 

These are common reasons people may find it hard to pray. No matter your reason for not praying, you’re not alone. Moreover, God understands. Even so, He wants to have a relationship with you. He longs for us to want to come to Him in relationship and prayer. 

What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

 When you’re learning to pray, the Bible is one of the best resources to read. Prayer is a major topic in the scriptures. Here are some examples of what the Bible teaches us about prayer. 

…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Romans 8:26 NKJV

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

Matthew 6: 5-6 NKJV 

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 

I John 5: 14-15 NKJV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

The Lord’s Prayer: An Example of Prayer Set by Christ

One of the first prayers for Christians was the one given by Christ to His apostles in Matthew 6:1-15 or Luke 11:1-13. This is called The Lord’s Prayer. It’s essential to understand that this is only one form of prayer; prayer can come in many different forms. But if you’re just getting started with prayer, this is an excellent place to start. 

Other examples of prayer can be found in the Old Testament, too, including the following: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

You can also find beautiful examples of prayer in Psalm 23, Psalm 19: 13-14, Psalm 25:4-5, Psalm 42:5-6, 11, Psalm 43:5, and many more. 

How to Get Started with Prayer

Getting started with prayer can feel overwhelming, so it’s best to start out simply. Many people start out with the ACTS prayer pattern. ACTS stands for: 

• Adoration: praising God for who He is and for what He’s done. 
• Confession: saying you’re sorry for the hurt we’ve caused God and others
• Thanksgiving: thanking God for all He does for us (and has done)
• Supplication: Asking God to grant us what we and others need

The ACTS prayer starts out with adoration and praise for God. Consider who God is and what He has done. Don’t be afraid to become filled with awe that God loves you and wants a relationship with you. 

The next step is confession, where we ask God to forgive our sins. Here, you can name those you remember—don’t be afraid. He already knows your sins; however, confessing them shows God that you are sorry for the things you’ve done and that you want to do better. 

Next is expressing thankfulness to God for all the many blessings and gives He’s given you. Try to be specific when you’ve noticed a gift He’s given and thank Him with your whole heart. 

Finally, you can end with supplication. Supplication is the time during prayer that you share your concerns for yourself and others. 

After supplication, it’s good to have a time of silence with our Father. He may bring to mind things or people to pray for, a Bible verse to study, and more. He shows us much if we listen to Him. 

Once your silent time is over, you can end the prayer by thanking God for spending this time with you and then saying, “Amen.”

Should You Sit, Kneel, Stand, or What? 

That's entirely up to you! Sometimes, you may choose to sit during prayer. Other times you may kneel, stand, or even walk. You can even pray while doing the dishes, washing the car, and more!  

The good news is that there's no one best way to pray. Do what you're able to; however, being comfortable may be the best way to start in the beginning. Sitting in a quiet place where you can focus your heart and soul on God is the most beneficial in the beginning. 

As you gain more practice, you'll learn to pray anywhere at any time. 

Concluding Thoughts

Getting started with prayer may feel challenging, but with daily practice and reading the scripture, you’ll find it easier to spend time with God. Over time, you may start to become aware of God’s presence with you during prayer time. Don’t be afraid—whether you feel His presence or not, God is with you. Each of us is able to approach His throne through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Remember, prayer is like meeting your closest friend and talking with them about all kinds of things. Our Father is the closest friend any of us will ever have, and we can talk to Him about everything. 

Spend time with God every day and see what happens. And if you need additional advice, be sure to reach out to your pastor for their help and guidance.

And if you've not yet reached out to God, read that blog post, too. 

If you'd like, leave a comment about your experience with prayer! 

God bless,

PS If you'd like to find apps for prayer, Bible study, etc. head over to our Resources page!