How to Pray? - 12 Considerations

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How to Pray

Prayer is important in a Christian’s life. We should have a relationship with God and one of the best ways is by praying. Before we discuss how to pray, let us first understand what is prayer.

Table of Contents

a. What is Prayer?
b. How to Pray?
  1. Where should Christians pray?
  2. Who should we pray to? Do we also pray to the Jesus or Holy Spirit or the dead?
  3. Who can be our meditator and intercessor?
  4. Is there a specific position that we should take when praying?
  5. When should we especially pray? 
  6. When did Jesus, our example, pray?
  7. How often should Christians pray?
  8. What about group prayers?
  9. What to pray about?
  10. Who else to pray for?
  11. The role of the Holy Spirit in prayer
  12. How not to pray?

a. What is Prayer?

Prayer is talking to God. It is letting God know what is in your heart as you would a friend. Prayer raises us to God rather than lowering Him to us. Now let us look at the scriptures on how to pray.

b. How to Pray?

Jesus told us how to pray. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He taught them the Lord's Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer is a model prayer and teaches us how to talk to God. The model prayer has the following aspects.

  • We are to address God as our Heavenly Father.
  • We are to praise Him.
  • We can ask God to provide for 
  • We are to ask for forgiveness for our sins.
  • We are to ask God for help from temptation.
We should also pray with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

1. Where should Christians pray?

What we say to God should be private according to Matthew 6:6, unless it is a public prayer gathering.


Matthew 6:6

A closet in Matthew 6:6 does not refer to the closet where you put your clothes, but any room where there is privacy.

2. Who should we pray to? Do we also pray to the Jesus, the Holy Spirit or the dead?

  • According to John 15:16, we are to pray to God, the Father, in Jesus' name. 
  • There is no mention of directing our prayer to the Holy Spirit or Jesus in the Bible.
  • No verse in the Bible says we should pray to Mary, Jesus' mother, the dead saints, or angels.

3. Who can be our meditator and intercessor?

  • Only Jesus Christ is our mediator between God and us (1 Timothy 2:5).
  • Jesus is also our intercessor (Romans 8:34)
  • The Holy Spirit also can make intersession for us when we do not what we should pray for (Romans 8:26)
  • There is no Bible verse that says that the dead saints, priests, pastors, ancestors, or Mary, Jesus' mother, can be our mediator or intercessor.

4. Is there a specific position that we should take when praying?

The Bible does not have a commandment for a specific position. It also does not say whether you should close your eyes or not. However, we see how God’s people prayed in the Bible and can use them as examples.

  • We read that many of God’s people kneel when they pray (Daniel 6:10).
  • You can also lift your hands in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8).
  • Your position also depends on where you are. If you are at the mall, then it would be better if you prayed standing and not kneel down in public and puzzle those around.

5. When should we especially pray? 

  • We should especially pray in the morning (Psalm 5:2-3) to ask for guidance, protection, and help. 
  • It is important to pray in the morning since we need strength to battle the rest of the day and the wisdom to avoid the devil's snares.

6. When did Jesus, our example, pray?

  • Jesus normally prayed early in the morning before daylight at a solitary place by Himself (Mark 1:35).
  • Jesus sometimes prayed all night to God, especially when He had to make an important decision (Luke 6:12).

7. How often should Christians pray?

  • We should pray daily and aim to pray at least in the morning, afternoon, and evening according to Psalm 55:17.
  • However, there is no limit on how many times we can pray, and we should try to have constant communion with God and pray the whole day (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Chronicles 16:11).
  • Tell God about your worries or fears, what you are grateful for, what is irritating you, or your hopes and dreams. You cannot weary God with your prayers.

8. What about group prayers?

  • The Bible has many examples of God's people praying in a group in the Old and New Testaments.
  • The minimum amount of people for a group prayer is two (Matthew 18:19-20).

9. What to pray about?

We can talk to God about anything as long as it is not against His will.

We can pray for the following:

  • Protection (John 17:15)
  • Forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9)
  • Wisdom (James 1:5)
  • Help against fear and anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • The Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13)
  • Help against temptation (Matthew 6:13)
  • God to bless our food (Acts 27:35)

We can pray about anything that concerns us, and even if we do not have problems, we can praise God and continuously thank Him for all He has done for us.

10. Who else to pray for?

  • The Bible encourages us to pray for all men, including kings and those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
  • The Bible says that we should pray for those who persecute us and despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44).

11. The role of the Holy Spirit in prayer

When we do not know what to pray for the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26)

12. How not to pray?

  • We should not pray like hypocrites who like to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5).
  • We should not engage in vain repetitions. Examples of vain repetitions are mantras and praying using the rosary, which consists of repeating the same prayers over and over again (Matthew 6:7).
  • No verse in the Bible says we should pray using prayer beads or the rosary.
  • We should not pray, nor bow down to graven images, crosses, or religious pictures. You will be committing idolatry if you do this and will break the first and second commandments.

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Additional recommended reading and Video:

Prayeronline.org

How to be a prayer warrior? - video



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