The short answer: prayer is talking with God. Because of Jesus, you can come to God as your Father, in your own words, anywhere. Jesus gave His disciples the Lord's Prayer as a pattern: praise God, ask for His kingdom and will, ask for what you need, ask for forgiveness, and ask for His protection. Start with a few honest minutes a day. You do not need special words. You need to begin.
What Is Prayer?
Prayer is a conversation with God. You speak to Him, and you listen as He speaks through His Word. The Bible invites you to come honestly: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8, ESV).
Even Jesus' disciples had to learn. "Lord, teach us to pray," one of them asked (Luke 11:1, ESV). If you feel like a beginner, you are in good company.
The Prayer Jesus Taught
Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
That is Matthew 6:9–13, ESV. You can pray it word for word, and you can also use it as an outline:
- "Our Father in heaven." Come to God as a child to a good Father.
- "Hallowed be your name." Start with worship. Tell Him who He is.
- "Your kingdom come, your will be done." Ask for His purposes first, in your life and your city. See what Matthew 6:33 means.
- "Give us this day our daily bread." Ask for what you need today. Nothing is too small.
- "Forgive us our debts." Confess your sins and receive His forgiveness, and forgive others.
- "Deliver us from evil." Ask for His protection and strength against temptation.
A Simple Pattern: ACTS
Many Christians use four letters to remember the parts of prayer:
- Adoration. Praise God for who He is: faithful, holy, loving.
- Confession. Admit where you have sinned. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9, ESV).
- Thanksgiving. Thank Him for specific things He has done.
- Supplication. Ask for what you and others need.
How to Start Praying Today
- Find a quiet place. "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret" (Matthew 6:6, ESV). Jesus Himself went out early to a desolate place to pray (Mark 1:35).
- Use your own words. Jesus warned against "empty phrases" (Matthew 6:7, ESV). Talk to God plainly.
- Bring your worries. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6, ESV).
- Pray with your Bible open. Read a passage and turn it into prayer. See how to read the Bible for beginners.
- Pray in Jesus' name. We come to the Father through Jesus. "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13, ESV).
- Keep a short list. Write down names and needs, and note when God answers.
- Pray through the day. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). Short prayers while you drive or walk count.
When Prayer Feels Hard
Everyone has days when prayer feels dry or words do not come. You are not alone in that, and you are not left alone in it: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26, ESV). Keep showing up. Pray a Psalm out loud. Pray with a friend. God listens to honest, simple prayers.
Pray for Others
Prayer is not only for your own needs. Pray for your family, your street, and people who do not yet know Jesus. You can even pray with someone on the spot. See how to pray with someone in sixty seconds and how to pray for your city.
Common Questions
How do I pray to God for the first time? Find a quiet place and talk to God honestly in your own words. Tell Him who He is, thank Him, confess your sins, and ask for what you need. You can use the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 as a pattern.
What should I say when I pray? Follow the Lord's Prayer or the ACTS pattern: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Use plain words. Jesus warned against empty phrases (Matthew 6:7).
How long should I pray? There is no required length. Start with a few honest minutes a day and pray short prayers throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Consistency matters more than length.
Does God hear my prayers? Yes. The Bible says that "if we ask anything according to his will he hears us" (1 John 5:14, ESV), and the Holy Spirit helps us when we do not know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
Our Father in heaven. Start there, and keep talking.
