How to Pray and Talk to God

Praying Hands

Prayer is a great gift. Through prayer we are lifted up above our problems, distractions, and wounds. Life has a way of wounding the soul and spirit. Having the ability to touch God in prayer gives us hope, comfort, and a sense of our place in the universe. Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Take a moment today to indulge yourself with the gift of prayer. You will be blessed and in so doing bless others.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bible
• Private place to be alone

1. Many people do not understand prayer and find themselves without the words to say when it comes to speaking with God. Prayer is a conversation with God. It is exactly like any other conversation you may have in your life. God wants to talk with you but it is up to the individual to make the first move. You do not need to be afraid that you will say the wrong words. God understands who you are and knows you already. He just wants to get to know you better, and he wants you to know Him.

2. Praying in a group is not the same as praying in private. Some churches are very traditional and say prayers as a group during the service. Some churches believe in freedom of worship and get quite loud in their prayers. Prayer as part of a congregation is very important but will not replace the need for private prayer. Most Christian prayers begin with the person praying on their knees with their hands folded together. This is not essential, but it is traditional. The most important thing is for you to get into a comfortable position where you can focus your thoughts on your conversation with God.

3. As you begin praying it is good to have a prayer agenda so you will know exactly what you want to pray about.

   1. Begin your prayer with praise and worship.
   2. Give thanks.
   3. Ask for forgiveness of sins.
   4. Bring your petitions before God
   5. End with praise and worship.

   This list is to give you a loose structure to begin your prayer life. If you are not accustomed to regular prayer you may begin with five minutes and work up to thirty minutes a day. Many people spend hours in prayer but it is unrealistic to ask a novice to do this.

4. Prayer and meditation brings a new dimension to your life. Those who pray regularly find peace and comfort and are grounded in their beliefs. Search for scripture passages you find inspirational and use them to pray the Word aloud during your prayer time. You will be blessed.

Tips & Warnings

• Read Psalms 27

• Read Psalms 91

• Read Psalms 23

Resources

• From A Layman's Point of View Blog
• Spiritual Warfare: A Handbook
• Have You Received the Holy Ghost Since You Believed?
• From A Layman's Point of View
• The Power of a Praying Parent Deluxe Edition
• Bread and Wine Readings for Lent and Easter