Every Christian knows that prayer is something that’s supposed to be a central part of our lives. Even those who aren’t Christians are aware of the importance of prayer in the lives of the religious. We know that it’s important, and we know that it’s necessary, but just like Jesus’ disciples many are still left with the question – “How do I pray?” Here are a few tips taken from the prayers of Jesus and others in the Scriptures.

Think spiritually

There’s nothing wrong with prayers for physical, earthly concerns, but the greater power in prayer concerns our spiritual lives. Read Paul’s beautifully worded prayers that focused on the spiritual concerns he had for his readers and notice how specific he was in requesting that they be strengthened in the weaker areas of their Christianity. Look also to the Psalms, where David and the other psalmists wrote many times about their relationship with God. They spoke of their trust in Him, their awe at His glory, and their thankfulness for His guidance. Pray for those physical concerns that arise from time to time, but make sure to spend time focusing on the eternally important issues as well. 

Submit to God’s will

The words Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46) show us how we must make our requests. He did not want to go through the horrible things He was about to face and He made that known to the Father, but He qualified His requests with the desire that God’s will be accomplished first. We may know exactly what we want and we might think we know what we need, and it’s not wrong to ask for those things, but always leave room for God’s will. A person who prays knowing exactly what they want and won’t accept any other outcome isn’t submitting to a sovereign, all-knowing God – they’re looking for a genie. 

Pray in faith

If you’re asking for God to do something but don’t really believe you can trust Him to answer it in your best interest, why ask at all? In James 1:6-8 we read that a person who prays without faith shouldn’t expect to receive anything. If we’re praying in God’s will (as mentioned above), then we should be going into it with the full confidence that God’s will is best. To improve your prayer life, go in with the knowledge that you’re not always going to get what you request, but instead you’re getting something better: the knowledge that the matter is in God’s hands. This is how we acquire the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

Give thanks

Don’t be like the people of Israel, who repeatedly saw God work wonders on their behalf and yet continually implied that He didn’t care about them the next time they needed something. Continually giving thanks for what we have and noting the prayers that He has answered keeps our faith strong and builds a greater love and appreciation for our Father’s blessings. And I don’t just mean remembering to thank him for the blessings of the day. Get a journal and keep a log of the prayer requests you have and make note when one was answered and how God answered it. It’ll open your eyes to just how much He loves us, and just like Israel’s memorials established after God’s great works it’ll remind us of how He was there for us when we needed Him most.

Get alone

Jesus would take time to get away from everybody else to pray (Luke 5:16), and if He needed that one-on-one time, so do we. Short prayers before meals or prayers said right before we doze off to sleep have their value, but there’s nothing quite like dedicated private time with God. Just as marriage experts tell us that couples need one-on-one time to grow their relationship, so the Bible gives us numerous examples of godly people making time for private, personal time with God to grow closer to Him.

Fast

Considered by many to be a practice no longer necessary, fasting actually remains one of the best ways to communicate our faith, intentions, and desires to God. By abstaining from food, sleep, and even marital intimacy for set intervals a Christian shows God by their actions that the matter at hand is critically important to them to the point that they would rather bring it before Him than partake in their regular daily activities. Jesus made time for fasting (Matthew 4:2) and also stated that His disciples would fast once He had ascended (Matthew 9:15 – which continues to apply to us today).

As one of the foundational keys to a solid Christian life, prayer is something we have to practice each and every day, and with that practice and a greater understanding of the way God’s people prayed in the Bible should come growth in our attitude toward prayer and in the words we say. For all those who’ve desired such growth but aren’t sure where to start, practice these biblical steps and watch your faith grow.

Got anything you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

By Jack Wilkie