How to Pray

Even if we have overcome the obstacle of finding a time and a place to pray, we may find ourselves asking the question, "How do I pray?"  Many of us feel like we don’t know how to pray in the right way.  We feel inadequate and ignorant.  But just as no child can draw a bad picture, no child of God can pray a bad prayer (Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home).  God loves us as children and is always glad when we come to God in prayer.

There are different forms of prayer that the believer can practice.  Learning about these practices of prayer can deepen our experience of God.  The point is not to impress God with our prayer life.  Nor is it to become an expert on prayer.  The point in practicing prayer is to love God and to learn of God.

We have the wisdom and experience of Christians across the centuries to help us learn how to pray.  Here are a few ways to pray:

  • Conversation with God is talking to God, listening for God.  This form of prayer is perhaps the most widespread.  We talk to God as a friend.
  • Intercessory Prayer is praying for the needs of others.  We lift up specific concerns or joys to God.  We practice this discipline individually and in community.
  • Contemplative Prayer is silent communion with God, resting in God, adoring God. 
  • Meditation is silent listening. Often it helps to focus on a particular passage of Scripture, a picture or a word. 

This list is only a beginning. Some resources that might be helpful are:

Be sure and visit www.upperroom.org and www.cokesbury.com for other resources.

 How to Pray Prayer Request

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