How to Pray: 5 Simple Steps to Follow

Prayer is how we talk to our heavenly Father. It’s how we praise him, thank him, abide in him and ask for what we need. It’s how we build a lasting relationship with him that sustains us and gives us hope as we journey through life. In other words, prayer is powerful.

But something so special couldn’t possibly be simple, right? The truth is, prayer is simple, and Jesus outlined every step for us in Matthew 6.

Here, we’ll follow in Jesus’ footsteps to show you how to pray. We’ll also share tips and tricks for improving your prayer time and offer a sample prayer you can use for practice.

What's Here:

• 1. Praise God
• 2. Ask for God’s Plan to Be Fulfilled
• 3. Ask for What You Need
• 4. Ask for Forgiveness
• 5. Ask for Help Through Temptation
• A Sample Prayer for Practice
• Tips for More Purposeful & Powerful Prayer Time
• How to Pray to God: FAQs

1. Praise God

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” — Matthew 6:9, NLT

When Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray, he started by taking a moment to praise God for who he is, declaring it from his heart. We should do the same!

Starting with praise when we pray does two things. First, it helps us put God first instead of our needs, turning our focus completely to him. And second, it helps remind our hearts of who he is and what he’s done, regardless of the circumstances we’re in.

Tip: Take a few minutes to declare who God is using your own words. He’s holy. He’s faithful. He’s good! Make it personal and praise him for who he is to you. Be sure to thank him for what he’s done in your life.

2. Ask for God’s Plan to Be Fulfilled

“May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10, NLT

When we pray, we tend to immediately dive into asking God for our way. Our needs. Our desires. But God knows what’s truly best for all of us, and his plan is so much better than ours.

We should ask God to fulfill his plan, or will, for our lives as well as within the world. We should also pray that he would give us the wisdom and strength to follow his plan, even when it’s hard. He’s faithful to lead us.

3. Ask for What You Need

“Give us today the food we need …” — Matthew 6:11, NLT

Jesus and his disciples traveled a lot. And ministry? It wasn’t a paid profession. Jesus was fully dependent on his Father to provide his necessities, like food. Knowing that, Jesus wasn’t afraid to ask God to fulfill that need.

We don’t have to be afraid to ask God for our needs either. Whether we’re asking for healing for our bodies, relief from an anxious mind or food when we’re without, he cares for us and is faithful to provide.

Tip: It can be hard to humble ourselves and ask for things we need. If you struggle to do this, try writing your requests down in a journal instead. You can also go back and record those moments when God fulfills those needs. It’s an excellent way to remind yourself of his faithfulness!

4. Ask for Forgiveness

“… and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” — Matthew 6:12, NLT

We’re far from perfect. And sometimes, we make mistakes and do things we shouldn’t. We sin. But God is faithful to forgive us when we confess our sins to him.

In our prayer time, we can confess our sins by being honest with God about our shortcomings. Tell him where you’ve struggled and ask for his forgiveness.

Remember: God is your Father. He cares for you and can handle your mess-ups. You don’t have to be afraid. Instead, you can run straight to him when you make a mistake. And as you receive grace and forgiveness from him, extend it to others.

5. Ask for Help Through Temptation

“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” — Matthew 6:13

When we ask for forgiveness, God will provide it. But he doesn’t stop there. God can help us fight back against future temptation, empowering us to escape the enemy.

In your prayer time, ask God to give you the strength required to resist what tempts you to sin. Ask him to change you and make you more like him.

Tip: All of us struggle with different things. When you pray, be specific about what you struggle to resist. Maybe it’s anger or gossip. Maybe you’re feeling envious of a friend. Whatever it is, God can help you overcome it. All you have to do is ask!

A Sample Prayer for Practice

It’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice! Here’s a sample prayer you can use and customize to fit your specific needs. Simply answer the prompts to fill the prayer with your own words.

Heavenly Father, you are [Who is God to you?]. Thank you so much for [What has he done for you?]. Help me to follow your plan, not mine in this season, as I know your way is better. Father, I pray that you would [What is a need you have or a request?]. Please, forgive me for [What is a shortcoming you’re struggling with?] and help me to resist it. And God, thank you. Thank you for always hearing my prayers and caring for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Tips for a More Purposeful & Powerful Prayer Time

By following these five steps that Jesus lays out, you’ll be well on your way to learning how to pray. And if you want to be a bit more purposeful in your prayer time, here are some simple tips and tricks.

Designate a Time for Prayer

Building a habit of prayer in your life requires consistency. One way to start creating consistency is to designate specific times for prayer. For example, you could pray:

• Over your morning coffee.
• On your way to and from work.
• With your kiddos during school drop-off and pick-up.
• While you shower and prep for the day.
• Before you go to sleep.

While prayer can happen anywhere and at any time, creating intentional space for it will help you ensure it’s a priority in your day-to-day life.

Stop the Distractions

During prayer, it’s important to focus completely on God. That’s hard to do when your phone is pinging or the neighbor’s lawnmower is blasting through the nearby open window.

Try to eliminate distractions. Go to a quiet place. Turn your phone on silent or airplane mode. Turn off your TV. Do whatever you have to do to turn your focus to your heavenly Father.

Focus Your Body

While the above tip will help you focus your heart and mind, you should also focus your body. One way to do that is by getting into a posture of prayer.

For example, you can kneel, sit on the floor with your eyes closed or even stand and lift your hands. Remember to make it personal and do what you feel led to do as you pray.

Use the Bible

God’s Word is full of his promises and guidance for every situation. If you’re not sure what to pray just yet, pray scripture!

For example, do a quick search for Bible verses that fit your need. Then, make it personal and read the verse back to God. Let’s try it together.

Maybe you’re struggling with anxiety. A great Bible verse for anxiety is Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV):

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

To pray the scripture, your prayer could look something like this:

“Father, your word says that I shouldn’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, present my requests to you. Father, I’m anxious and need your peace. Please give me peace that transcends understanding. Guard my heart and my mind. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Set Reminders

We set reminders for when we need to remember milk at the grocery store or to keep us from forgetting doctor’s appointments. Why not set reminders for prayer?

For example, set a reminder on your phone for the times you plan to set aside for prayer. Or jot down reminders on sticky notes and place them where you’ll see them, such as in your car or on your fridge.

Keep It Simple

If there’s anything you take from this guide, let it be this: Your Father just wants to hear from you. Keep it simple! You don’t have to use the prettiest of phrases. You don’t have to be “good” at prayer. All he wants is your heart, so you can talk to him just like a friend.

Practice by Praying With Us!

Just like anything you want to get better at, practice helps us when it comes to prayer. The more you pray, the easier it will become! Why not practice by praying for those who desperately need it? Join us as we pray for children living in poverty.