How to Pray
A foolproof way to pray (newsflash: not groundbreaking)
The smorgasbord of my writings never fails to make even me giggle. I go from sharing a deep testimony to talking about my relationship with social media, my favorites of the month, and who’s to say what’s next.
Yet I’ve found that some of my best received pieces are the ones where I share about how good my God is — which makes me real giddy.
I love praying. Maybe that’s because I genuinely am such a yapper. God loves a chatterbox. But… how do you pray? How do you approach the Creator of the stars and the sun? The One who holds your eternity in His hand?
It’s not as step by step magic as you may think, and it surely isn’t a one size fits all approach.
Oftentimes, more than not….it starts as, “Hi Lord…thank You for meeting me here today.”
Your day at the office is coming to a close. It’s 5. You’ve officially clocked out and you’re headed to your car. It’s been one of those days.
You’re walking a little farther than usual because this morning you were running late. Your dog hid your car keys, which meant no close parking spots. When you finally reach your car, you notice a large dent in the passenger door. No note on the windshield. Just a dent you won’t be repairing anytime soon because, financially, that’s the last place you’re allocating money right now. “You have to be kidding me,” you mutter under your breath, defeated by your already crummy day.
You get into the driver’s seat and notice an email from your boss scheduling a 1:1 for the morning. Your heart rate rises quickly. Am I getting fired?
You already know it’ll be a restless evening.
After sitting in traffic far longer than necessary, you arrive home and find a bill wedged in your door from your neighbor. Overdue. Threatening collections.
You try calling your mom, she lives states away, but she doesn’t answer.
You forgot. The time difference.
Your best friend is out on a date, a quiet reminder that you’re still single. You sink into your couch and, for the first time all day, you break. “Oh God, please help me. I feel lost. I am lonely. And goodness, I am sad.”
You finally let the words leave your mouth. And it’s a relief. You feel… better. Less alone.
Maybe that isn’t “just because.”
Maybe, if you have even a mustard seed, it’s because the Creator of the universe has listened and answered you in conversation.
So how do you start the conversation?
The Lord meets you in the mess. There is no specific way to show up to Him, just show up.
Sometimes we lack in prayer because we don’t know where to begin. On days when my prayers feel lackluster, I turn to what God provided us: the Our Father.
Yet, if you’ve read my testimony, you know that by the grace of God I met my husband, who introduced me to our now home church. Our pastor has a simple yet effective breakdown of daily prayer for those, like me, who appreciate a checklist. Who like to know exactly what “steps” to take.
P R A Y
Begin with praise.
Open your prayer with praise and gratitude toward God. Thank Him for being Him. For your health and another day alive. For the comfort in the sheets you rustled in and the coffee you smell brewing. A weekly payment. The love from a furry friend. The roof over your head. A loved one checking in. The television premiere you’re looking forward to tonight.
There is so much to be grateful for. When in doubt, name three.
Repent.
Before continuing in prayer, you would be remiss not to ask for forgiveness. Even if it’s been a day, or just a few hours, since your last prayer. You cannot tell me your mind hasn’t wandered somewhere it shouldn’t, if you can, you’re a lot better than I.
I surely am not the only one who gets frustrated with call centers and lets her thoughts get the best of her. But thankfully… I have a forgiving God I can speak to openly.
Ask.
Before you find yourself asking the Lord for what you need, begin by humbling yourself enough to ask on behalf of others. Pray for your husband. Your family, and in laws. The coworker you don’t see eye to eye with. The neighbor who has been more quiet recently. The friend you are disagreeing with. Your city.
Do not treat this lightly. This is the call of discipleship, to love others well. If you are not praying for the people in your life, you are missing an opportunity to serve the Kingdom of Heaven.
You.
Then, take time to bring your own requests before Him. Ask the Lord to search your heart. To align your heart and mind with His desires, for His will to shape your life. Ask for guidance in the situations you’re navigating and struggling through. Tell Him about your wins and your losses.
He created you. He wants to hear the stories of His child’s life. Yes, the Lord knows all. But He also gave you a mouth to use in worship.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
It’s interesting how a post of mine comes to life. Typically, it begins with me texting myself a Substack idea. I’ll create an aligning graphic and begin writing from there. It’s my own little process.
This post took roughly an hour to write. It wasn’t planned. On a Wednesday. After work. Responsibilities temporarily neglected, conviction clear. I felt compelled to write this.
This is for you. The one the Lord used me to share this with. I love you.
And so does He.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I really love the first part of this piece "The smorgasbord of my writings never fails to make even me giggle. I go from sharing a deep testimony to talking about my relationship with social media, my favorites of the month, and who’s to say what’s next."