How to Start Praying To God - Raising Everyday Disciples

Prayer. What is it? How do we go about getting started with prayer?

Prayer is simply communicating with our great God and Creator. It is a privilege that we have as followers of Christ to come before the God of the universe in prayer. Through prayer, our relationship with God grows, just like spending time talking with a friend grows a friendship.

Prayer is a response to God and His Word. It is how we praise Him, how we humble ourselves before Him, and repent of our sin against Him. As we talk to God, we can bring our needs before Him and also intercede for others to Him.

Praying is not a duty but a delight as we get to spend time talking with our Father.

But sometimes it may seem like we don’t know what to say or how to start praying to God. Or we may struggle to prioritize it in our day. Let’s have a look at each of these a little further.

Why Should We Prioritize Praying To God?

Prayer grows our relationship with God.

As we talk with God, we grow to know Him deeply and our love for Him grows.

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:2-3

As we call to Him, He answers and reveals Himself to us in incredible ways that we could’ve never imagined!

God tell us to pray without ceasing.

Prayer should be the very fabric of our day, holding us together as we constantly seek communion with our great God.

“Be joyful always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We can confidently come before God to receive His mercy and grace.

Jesus understands what we are going through, sympathizes with us, and intercedes for us.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Prayer shows our full dependence on Him and humility before Him.

In prayer we recognize that He alone is God and we are not. We praise Him for who He is and tell Him of our reliance on and trust in Him.

“The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit–O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” Psalm 51:17

God says that He will answer when we pray!

As we abide in God’s Word and stay connected to Him, we can ask whatever we wish and He answers. We must be careful to note that as we are connected to Him, the desires of our hearts become HIS desires and so we ask according to His will and desires, not our own, and He answers. What a huge promise!

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

“Prayer as relationship is probably the best indicator about the health of your love relationship with God. If your prayer life has been slack, your love relationship has grown cold.” – John Piper

How To Begin Praying

There are so many ways we can pray and come before the Lord. The amount of tools to help you get started with prayer are endless. From praying scripture, using a prayer journal, to the many acronyms that are used to help in prayer, all are wonderful and useful to propel you forward in your prayer life.

I want to share with you one tool that has been particularly helpful for me both personally and also in discipling others as we consider how to start praying to God. I have used this in times when I don’t know what to pray or when I am feeling distracted in my prayers and need some guidance. It is helpful to lead me through different areas of prayer and things to be remembering to present before God.

The ACTS Prayer Method

A : Adoration and praise
How can I praise God?
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable!” Psalm 145:3

C : Confess your sins
What sins do I need to say sorry for?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

T : Thanksgiving
What can I thank God for?
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

S : Supplication
What do you want to ask God for, both for you and for others?
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Ephesians 6:18

There are many ways to use this tool as we pray. I find it helpful to sit down, read through the verses, and write out the answers to the questions after looking into the word and processing a bit. Doing this can help me come up with things that I never would have thought of had I just been generally praying.

This is also a great way to help someone else learn how to pray. I have used these verses to help my children think of ideas of things to pray for and it was so helpful to them. They sometimes use it as an idea sheet now when they can’t think of what they want to pray for. It’s a great resource in discipling children!

Here’s the activity we did as a family during our **family Bible time** to talk through the ACTS prayer method. I had the questions and verses prepared and the kids came up with some ideas for answers to pray for!

I also find it helpful to use with those that I’m discipling, even if they aren’t just getting started in prayer. We often get stuck in a rut with the things we are praying, and this can open our eyes to things to praise God for or to be repenting of, etc. As we open the scriptures together, it also reveals things that we want to be praying.

Lastly, I find it helpful to use when I just don’t know what to pray. Most often I won’t get a journal out and write all of this down, but it can still be helpful at times to guide my mind and heart as I talk with God.

What an absolute delight and joy that we can talk to God, commune with Him, and get to know Him through prayer. I pray that this resource will propel you to praise our great God, and that it will also be helpful as you seek to encourage others to do the same.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

*This resource is meant to be shared! If you found it helpful, please share it with family and friends, use it as you disciple your children or others in your life that you are discipling, and continue passing on a love for spending time with God through prayer!*