How to Pray: 5 Practical Tips
I know prayer has power and can change lives, but when I sit down to pray, my mind wanders back to the last season of Downton Abbey or to my to-do list after three minutes. Many Christians struggle with knowing how to pray, and I suspect I’m not alone.
Why do we struggle with how to prayer?
We often believe that in order for prayer to be effective, we must pray long and eloquently. However, Paul was clearly referring to a heart attitude, not a never-ending prayer meeting. The fewer the words, the better the prayer; God hears even our shortest “SOS” prayers.
Tip 2: Read the Bible and Pray Over Verses
Allow David’s words in the Psalms to enliven your prayers, and stop in the Gospels to pray over a verse that strikes you, asking God to work that truth into your heart.
Tip 3: Make Prayer Active and Multi-Sensory
When we turn prayer into a purely mental exercise, it becomes tedious. Lighting a fragrant candle can signal to our brains that “it’s time to pray.” Listening to music can help us focus on God. Many people enjoy doodling, drawing, or painting while praying.
Tip 4: Make Prayer an Integral Part of Your Day
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 says. Why not try an experiment? Start and end your day with prayer. Lift up short prayers to God as often as you can throughout the day.
Tip 5: Pray Expectantly
Remember Colossians 4:2: “Devote Yourselves to Prayer, being watchful and thankful,” and how much more exciting prayer becomes when we keep our eyes open to watch for God’s answers.
What are some good prayers to say?
Dear Lord, remind me of the difference it makes when I make time for You first thing in the morning; awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You and hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance, and wisdom over my heart as I prepare to face the day; in Jesus’ name, Amen.
How do I pray to God what I want?
God can answer vague prayers, but being specific creates a stronger bond between you and Him. Tell God what you want or need and ask Him to provide it for you.
How can I pray to God for good results?
Thank you that I am safely held in your love. Thank you that whatever happens in the future, I will live in your goodness and walk with you always. I lay before you all my hopes and fears about the outcome, and may you place a peace within me now as I rest and await the results.
What are the 5 basic prayer?
Adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication, abbreviated as A.C.T.S., are the four basic forms of prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours, the seven canonical hours of the Catholic Church prayed at set prayer times, is recited daily by clergy, religious, and devout believers.
What are the 4 types of prayer?
u201cPrayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God,u201d writes John Damascene. This definition encompasses the four main types of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication.
How do I receive God’s blessings?
“Cleanse your mind; clean up your act,” in the fullest sense, as God himself removes your desire for impure thinking and impure ways of acting, purifying your being from the inside out. “Seeing” God: the blessing promised in this beatitude is to know Him as your Father (by being in His presence).
How do I pray to God for a miracle?
Repeat the Catholic “Miracle Prayer” to help you focus: “Lord Jesus, I come before Thee, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me, and I forgive all others for what they have done against me in Thy Name.”
How do I talk to God?
It’s fine to pray with your eyes open and your head held high, just as it’s fine to pray kneeling and silent. It’s common to recite some traditional prayers out loud, but it’s also very common to pray silently to yourself.
What is a good prayer for healing?
Loved God, I pray that you will comfort me in my suffering, strengthen the hands of my healers, and bless the methods used to cure me; give me such faith in the power of your grace that I may put my complete trust in you even when I am afraid; through our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
How do you ask for a blessing?
Start by expressing your love for their daughter, then explain why you believe now is the right time to take the relationship to the next level, and then ask for their permission. For example, you could say, “As you know, I adore your daughter.”
How do you pray for someone?
Here are seven ways to pray for the people on your mind:
- Let the Lord know you’re available to be the answer to the prayer(s) you’re praying for people.
- Let the people know you’re praying for them and ask if there’s anything they’d like you to pray for.
What are the 7 prayers?
Confession, Salvation, Release, Submission, Praise, Promise, and Blessing are among the seven life-changing prayers that help readers find renewal and transformation in their spiritual lives.
How do you pray for a sick person?
To Heal A Friend Consider, O’ God, our sick friend, whom we now entrust to Your compassionate care. We believe that no healing is too difficult if it is Your will, so we pray that You bless our friend with Your loving care, renew his or her strength, and heal whatever ails him or her in Your loving name.