Have you ever wanted to pray but weren't sure where to begin? If you've ever asked, "Am I doing this right?" or "What am I even supposed to say?" you're not alone. Even Jesus's disciples once asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray." Prayer is an invitation to come to God just as you are, and this video offers some simple steps to do so.
In this video, we go over:
- What prayer is
- How Jesus taught his disciples to pray
- A simple way to structure your prayers
- A guided prayer you can pray right along with us
What is prayer?
Prayer is the lifting of the mind and heart to God in praise, in gratitude, and in asking for what we need. Jesus taught his followers to go into a quiet place and pray to God in secret (Matthew 6:6). Prayer was never meant to be a performance. It's personal.
How to pray
There's no single formula for prayer. But here are a few tips to help shape the conversation, if you're not sure where to start:
- Go to a quiet place.
- Begin with reverence. Acknowledge who you're speaking to.
- Offer praise and thanks. Thank God for who He is and what He's done.
- Confess honestly. Bring your shortcomings to God and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
- Ask for guidance for yourself and for others (Ephesians 6:18).
- Use Scripture. Let Bible verses guide your words.
- Listen and be open to God speaking to your heart.
- Close in Jesus' name.
