Despite what many may think, not knowing how to pray is a more common problem than you may imagine, even among believers!
So, let’s look at the scriptures and see what they have to say about prayer and go from there.
Matthew 6:5-13 (NIV-Jesus is speaking to his disciples)
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
So, here we find a good template for the way our prayers should be. Here is an example for the general content of your prayers, to give you an idea:
1. Begin with acknowledging God and thank him for what he means to you personally.
2. Pray that the desire of God for the Nations would be released in the Earth – i.e. peace, justice.
3. Then proceed to ask the Lord for your personal needs and the needs of others- i.e. family, friends, work, health, deeper relationship with Him etc.
4. Ask the Lord for his protection from temptation/sin and for him to help you in renewing your thinking. Ask him to show you things in your life which are not good and to change them. Ask him to help you overcome any hurts, fears, anger and unforgiveness etc.
5. Ask for forgiveness of any wrong doings - i.e. gossiping, slander, profanity, lust etc.
6. Round up by thanking him again for his goodness and loving-kindness towards you.
7. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.
I hope you find this helpful.
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