For many believers, prayer is an important aspect of spiritual life. Even if you are learning to pray, you can compose a good prayer consisting of a series of sentences to praise God, be grateful for all that He does for you, and ask for His help.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Praising God and Giving Thanks
Step 1. Begin praying by chanting the name of God
Greet God by saying, "Dear God," "Our Father who is in heaven," "Lord Jesus," or any other appropriate name for addressing God. You can also pray to Jesus.
Step 2. Acknowledge God's greatness
If you believe in God, you believe that God created this world and all living things on earth. Imagine how powerful the power of God who has created the universe and its contents is! Then imagine that the Almighty will listen to you speak and watch over you.
Tip:
when you start praying, you can say, "God is almighty and good!" or "Merciful Father, ruler of the universe."
Step 3. Thank God for His goodness and generosity
God is always forgiving, loving, and merciful to all people. Take time to praise and worship God every time you pray. Say thank you because God is always with you, blesses, and listens to you.
Tip:
As a thank you, you might say, "Thank you Lord for always forgiving my sins even though I repeat the same mistakes. Thank you for my family who love me. Thank you for being able to feel Your presence in my life!"
Step 4. Express your feelings to God
Remember that God knows everything you think, experience, and feel. So, the purpose of praying is not to tell these things, but to communicate with God in order to strengthen the relationship with Him.
- Similarly, when you say "I love you," you are doing this as a way of bonding with your parents, not to convey something they already know.
- Tell God everything you're thinking about, such as a hurtful event, a stressful activity plan, or a difficult Bible verse to understand.
Part 2 of 3: Making Requests and Closing Prayers
Step 1. Ask God to forgive your sins
Before asking God for anything, you need to ask for forgiveness of sins. Investigate your thoughts and feelings to find out what needs to be corrected and then ask God to forgive your mistakes and give you the strength to do good.
- Sin is not just a crime, such as stealing or lying. A person is sinful if he is envious of his co-workers, is bad to others, or puts material things ahead of his relationship with God.
- Ask for forgiveness of sins by praying, "Lord, I once promised to be patient with clients who are rude, but I failed. Forgive me for not being able to control myself. Give me the strength to stay calm if the same thing happens to me".
Step 2. Tell your problem and ask God to help you
No matter what you're going through, don't hesitate to ask God for help. He will welcome you with open arms if you seek Him. However, God knows what is best for you and the answers given may not necessarily match your desires.
- For example, if you are in financial trouble and pray, "God, I want to win prize money from the lottery," you may not get what you asked for. However, be prepared for a surprise if you pray, "Lord, give me the strength so that I can provide for my family's needs."
- On the other hand, maybe you are short of money because God wants to help you save money. Therefore, pray, "Lord, help me use money wisely so that I can manage my finances well".
- You can ask for anything you need when you pray, such as dealing with problems in your relationship or work.
Step 3. Pray for people who are going through difficulties
When you see a person living in poverty or being sick, for example a friend or a group of people in another country, ask God to help them. Praying for others is very useful in strengthening faith.
- For example: "Lord, my neighbor is so sick that he is suffering a lot. Bless him with strength and peace so that he can feel Your presence".
- Another example: "Father God, it breaks my heart to see the victims of war in the Middle East. It seems like this problem is so big that there is no solution, but nothing is too big for You. I beg of you, Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven so that people live in harmony and peace.
Step 4. Ask God to help you understand the answers He gives
God speaks to us in many ways and can be difficult to understand at times, especially if you are just starting to have a spiritual relationship with Him. Ask God to help you understand the things that show that He is answering your prayers.
When praying, believe that God will answer, but Don't anticipate the answer that God will give.
Step 5. Thank God one more time, then end your prayer
Make sure you pray with a grateful heart. A prayer that begins and closes with thanksgiving to God keeps you connected to Him. Say thank you because God hears your prayers and prepares the best for you.
You may end the prayer as you wish, but usually close by saying, "Amen."
Part 3 of 3: Preparing Your Heart and Mind
Step 1. Decide how to pray
You can pray aloud or silently. Choose the way you like because there are no rules to follow. Many people prefer to pray out loud to stay focused when communicating with God. There are also those who choose to pray silently because they want to maintain privacy and do not want to disturb other people nearby.
Whichever method you choose, God always hears your prayers, whether verbally, in your heart, or when you are speechless because you are so disappointed
Step 2. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed
You can pray anywhere at any time, but if you want to express your heart, it's best to pray in a quiet, distraction-free place. In addition, allocate time each day to pray, for example when you wake up in the morning, while driving to work/school, or before going to bed at night. Before praying, turn off the TV, radio, or silence your cell phone so you won't be disturbed.
Notes:
occasionally, pray with others who also want to pray earnestly. What's more, praying with other people will strengthen relationships with them and with God.
Step 3. Determine your posture while praying
You may pray while kneeling, sitting, or standing. Some people pray on their knees to show humility before God. It is necessary to prepare the heart and mind before praying. However, you may sit, stand, or even lie down while praying.
Tip:
if your knee hurts when you kneel, put a blanket or towel folded a little thick on the floor to support the knees.
Step 4. Prepare a prayer draft if you are having trouble focusing
If it's written down, you won't be daydreaming when you pray. At least you can keep praying if you're confused about what to say.
- Prayer drafts are especially helpful if you're on a lot of thoughts because you can focus on the really important things.
- Start keeping a diary by recording the things you say when you pray. As you read your diary, you will marvel at the way God is working in your life.
