What is the correct way to pray according to the Bible?
I used to think there had to be some perfect formula for prayer. Like I had to say the “right words” in the “right order” for God to hear me. But when I actually opened my Bible, I realized something life-changing—Jesus never taught us to pray like robots.
In Matthew 6:5–13, Jesus told His disciples not to be like the hypocrites who love praying out loud just to be seen. Instead, He said to go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret. That verse taught me something big: God cares more about the sincerity of my heart than the length or elegance of my words.
He even gave us a beautiful example through The Lord’s Prayer, not to recite over and over like a script, but to use as a model:
- Praise God first (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name”)
- Submit to His will (“Your will be done”)
- Ask for daily needs (“Give us this day our daily bread”)
- Seek forgiveness and extend it to others
- Ask for strength to avoid temptation
But if I’m being honest—sometimes I don’t remember all that. And that’s okay. God isn’t grading my grammar. He just wants me to come to Him.
I talk more about that kind of honest, heart-first connection in We Don’t Pray to Inform God, We Pray to Involve God. That article helped reshape my prayer life when I felt stuck.
What should Christians pray for daily?
So many people ask this—“What should I pray for?” And it’s a fair question. I used to come to God like He was a genie in a bottle, asking Him to fix everything fast. But over time, I realized He’s not just there to change my circumstances—He wants to change my heart.
Here’s what I believe every Christian can pray for each day:
1. Strength to face the day
Life is tough. Instead of praying, “God, take this away,” I started praying, “Lord, give me the strength to go through this with You.”
2. Wisdom and direction
James 1:5 says God gives wisdom generously when we ask for it. I ask Him daily to guide my steps, especially when I feel unsure.
3. Forgiveness and a clean heart
Psalm 51:10 always comes to mind—“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” I need that daily renewal.
4. Help loving others
Some people aren’t easy to love, but I’ve learned to ask God to help me love them like He loves me.
5. Gratitude
Even on hard days, there’s something to thank Him for. Gratitude shifts your perspective fast.
But let me be clear—not every desire needs to be prayed for. I used to pray for more “stuff,” for things to be easy, or for people to change… and sometimes God said no. That taught me to ask for more of Him, not just more from Him.
A great reminder of that is Faith in Difficult Times: A Christian’s Guide to Trusting God’s Plan. We don’t need quick fixes—we need faithful hearts.
Do you have to pray in Jesus’ name?
Yes. Absolutely, yes. That’s not just some Christian tradition—it’s biblical truth straight from the mouth of Jesus.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That hit me hard the first time I really let it sink in. It means we can’t come to God on our own terms. We come through Christ—or not at all.
And Jesus didn’t just say to pray—He said to pray in His name.
In John 14:13–14, Jesus promised, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” So when we end our prayers with, “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” it’s not just a habit. It’s us recognizing His authority, and that it’s through Him we have access to the Father at all.
It reminds me of what we covered in Why Pray in Jesus’ Name? Unlocking Biblical Truths. That article digs into the real power behind using His name—not just to get what we want, but to align ourselves with His will.
What are some examples of prayer in the Bible?
One of my favorite things about the Bible is that it shows real people praying from real places of pain, joy, fear, and faith. Their prayers weren’t scripted—they were raw and powerful.
Here are a few that have stuck with me:
1. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13)
Jesus taught this not as a word-for-word chant, but as a guide. Praise, surrender, needs, forgiveness, strength.
2. Hannah’s silent prayer (1 Samuel 1:10–13)
She was weeping and praying so deeply her lips moved, but no sound came. And God heard her.
3. David’s prayers in the Psalms
Whether he was celebrating or crying out in despair, he always brought it to God. Psalm 51 is a powerful example of prayer for forgiveness.
4. Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42)
“Not My will, but Yours be done.” Even Jesus asked for relief—but submitted to the Father’s plan.
5. The tax collector’s humble cry (Luke 18:13)
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”—short, simple, and straight from the heart. And Jesus said that man went home justified.
Every one of these reminds me: God’s not grading my prayer—He’s listening to my heart. You don’t have to “get it right.” You just have to be real.
A good reminder of that kind of prayer life? Push Me Lord: A Christian’s Prayer for Growth and Improvement. That one helped me learn to stop praying safe prayers—and start praying honest ones.
Should Christians only pray when things go wrong?
I used to treat prayer like a fire extinguisher—only break it out in emergencies. But that’s not how relationships work. Could you imagine only talking to your spouse or your best friend when things went bad? Yeah, that relationship wouldn’t last long.
Prayer isn’t just a backup plan. It’s our lifeline to God.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul says, “pray without ceasing.” That doesn’t mean we spend 24/7 on our knees. It means we stay connected to God throughout the day—in the good, the bad, and everything in between.
When I started doing that, it changed my whole walk with God. I wasn’t just calling Him when I was falling—I was walking with Him, even when things were going okay. Sometimes it was a quick “Thank You, Lord,” or a “Please help me keep my mouth shut in this meeting.” It became a constant conversation.
One powerful reminder for me is A Day Without Prayer: Harnessing the Power of Faith. It helped me realize how easily I let prayer slip—and what happens when I make it a priority again.
What if I don’t know what to say when I pray?
Oh, I’ve been there. Sitting quietly, trying to form the words, and feeling like nothing’s coming out right. But let me tell you something freeing: You don’t have to know exactly what to say—God already knows your heart.
Romans 8:26 puts it beautifully: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.”
That verse took so much pressure off me. Prayer isn’t a performance—it’s a conversation.
Here’s what I do when I feel stuck:
1. Start with gratitude
Even a simple, “Thank You for waking me up today” gets the conversation going.
2. Be honest
God already knows. You’re not surprising Him by saying you’re angry, tired, or confused.
3. Use Scripture
Sometimes I pray through verses. Like turning Psalm 23 into a prayer—“Lord, be my Shepherd today. I need You to lead me.”
4. Keep it short if needed
Some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible were just a sentence or two. Like Peter sinking into the water: “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
If you’re feeling unsure, The Bible—Your Personal Guide to Understanding God and Jesus is a great place to start. It reminds me that I’m not alone in figuring this out—and God’s Word helps me every step of the way.
What should we pray for—and what shouldn’t we?
This one really convicted me.
I used to pray for outcomes—“Lord, make this go away,” or “God, fix this now.” But over time, I realized I was treating God like a genie, not a Father. The truth is, we should pray for strength, wisdom, forgiveness, and for His will to be done—not just our own plans to succeed.
Here’s what we should definitely pray for:
1. Forgiveness and a clean heart
David said in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
2. Strength to endure
We don’t just pray for storms to stop—we ask for strength to go through them. Finding Strength in Faith helped remind me that God often grows us through what we go through.
3. Wisdom and guidance
James 1:5 says if we lack wisdom, we should ask God—and He’ll give generously.
4. For others
Jesus told us to pray for enemies, not just our loved ones. That’s tough, but it’s transformational.
And what about the things we maybe shouldn’t pray for?
Not that God ignores us—but sometimes our prayers reveal our selfish motives. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” That hit home. I had to learn to align my desires with His Word.
How has prayer changed my life personally?
If you’ve made it this far, I’ll be honest with you—prayer changed everything for me. Not overnight. But little by little, God used prayer to soften my heart, sharpen my mind, and open my eyes.
There were days I didn’t know what to do. But through prayer, I found peace that didn’t make sense, just like Philippians 4:6–7 promises. That verse is printed on a sticky note in my truck, and it still stops me in my tracks:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer is the heartbeat of a real relationship with God. It’s not just part of the Christian life—it is the Christian life.
And if you’re wondering how to even begin, just take that first step. Be honest. Be humble. Be you. He’s listening.
To keep growing in your prayer life, check out We Don’t Pray to Inform God—We Pray to Involve God. That one helped me shift from “God, here’s my plan” to “God, here’s my heart.”
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