The best way to learn how to pray
I needed to know the best way to learn how to pray. And I needed it fast. With debt collectors calling, my health in decline, recently coming out of a horrendous marriage that almost took my life… My life was a mess, but even worse was my prayer life.
Just saying, “God please help me!” felt as if it was going on deaf ears. I felt as if I needed to say something different than my daily one-liner. Are you struggling to pray? Would you like to learn the best way to pray?
Truly, the answer is so profound in its simplicity. To learn how to pray, you need to pray and keep on praying. You learn to pray by praying. In the same way, you don’t get what you ask for, because you don’t pray. I remember one day being so frustrated about a situation and venting with my Aunt, who gently took my hand and looking right at me said, “Well, did you pray about it?” Has that ever happened to you? I have very fond memories of uncontrollable venting or anger over a situation to stop and realize that I never prayed. It is not easy to seek Christ first in all things, but the more you start doing it with everything, you then realize you have created a habit of continually checking in with God.
Prayer life changed
My prayer life changed when I started my prayer with the humblest phrase, “Lord teach me how to pray.” To become a woman after God’s own heart, and to always be in His will, I had to pray about prayer.
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1
Jesus, the greatest teacher, taught us to pray as in Luke 11, what we call the Lord’s prayer. The intimacy of praying to the omnipotent One (all-powerful), omnipresent (everywhere), and omniscient (all-knowing) is such a powerful and hopeful blessing. It is good when others can pray on your behalf, but God wants to hear from each of us. If you read John 15 below, you note that we receive when we ask, and we reach out to Him – not when others do it for us. Now to be clear, we know that we still receive from others prayer and blessings on our lives; this is an important part of our own ministries when we intercede on behalf of others, but don’t use that as a crutch for you not to pray.
Let me explain, I wrote a few weeks back in this article, that anytime I needed prayer I went to my mom. She was the prayer warrior. But I used her as a crutch and an excuse not to pray myself. Since she had such a great connection with God, why did I need to pray? Don’t make the same mistakes I did – I had the title of a Christian, but no relationship with God. Not until God opened my eyes.
What God wants
He wants to build a passionate and growing relationship with each of us. When we grow in Him, and He is in us, then His word promises that whatever we ask, He will give us.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:7-9
Food for thought: What is the best way to learn how to pray? You will never get better at praying, unless you pray, and keep on praying. Become a friend of Jesus through daily connecting with Him. Just talk. Ask Him to teach you how to pray. He will answer. For free resources on praying powerfully, you can access them here.
Prayer: Holy Father, I need you. Teach me, Lord, how to pray. I want to draw closer to you, but I don’t know the words to say. Hear my heart Lord; renew a steadfast spirit within me that I may worship you Father in truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen
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