How to Pray
4 Easy Steps to a Conversation with God
Do you wonder how to pray? Does it seem awkward to you? Do you question whether He hears you? Friends, don’t overthink it. We found 4 easy steps to a conversation with God. We guarantee you that including prayer in your daily life will deepen your faith, improve your relationships, and give you peace and joy.
Those who kneel before God can stand before anyone. -Romans 8:39
As a believer, prayer is not an option. It’s a command. Not because God wants to “force us” to talk to Him. He commands us to come to Him in prayer for our own good, so that we can seek His path for our lives. He cares for us deeply. Prayer is a way that He can show us how much He loves us.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:6-7
We have been able to pray more consistently and honestly by following these 4 easy steps to conversation with God. And I mean EASY. You only have 4 simple words to remember when you talk to God.
Release. Thank. Speak. Accept.
1. Release.
We don’t need to overthink how to pray. The first step in having a conversation with God is to release control, anxieties, power, and any other thing that places you above Him. HE is the King. He is the Creator, Savior, Lord of all. One of the roadblocks to prayer is our own pride and desire for control. We hold onto everything. We carry our own burdens, anxieties, worries, and sins because we think we can fix, control, or arrange them. Pride stands in the way of our relationship with God. Notice in the 1 Peter verse above that the FIRST thing mentioned is to HUMBLE YOURSELVES. That’s no accident, friends. We must humble ourselves before the Lord. We must honor Him as the ultimate authority and then release all of our cares and concerns to Him. Only then will our hearts be open to His responses.
Do not be anxious about anything, 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 in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ.
2. Thank.
It is right to give thanks to the Lord, -Psalm 92:1a
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We have SO much to be thankful for. And all of it comes from God. We can even be thankful in our suffering, believe it or not. I have found that I grow the most when I am experiencing difficulty. The Bible confirms this truth. (read more about giving thanks in all circumstances here)
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. -Psalm 119:71
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; -Romans 5:3
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. -1 Peter 2:19
It is scientifically proven that a heart of gratitude experiences more joy. So, be thankful! Take time to tell God ALL the things you are grateful for. Not only is it right to give thanks and praise, you will benefit with the result of joy and peace. Win-win!
3. Speak.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. -Psalm 145:18
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16
God wants to hear from us. He wants us to share our deepest thoughts with him. Yes, he already knows what is in our head and hearts, but he desires us to seek him out. We need to call out to him. Cry out to him. Welcome him into our joy and pain. No fancy words necessary. God just wants to you to talk to him, and he wants to talk to you. It’s really as simple as that. How can we possibly be in close relationship with someone we never talk to? Speak to God.
4. Accept.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
But you, oh Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. -Psalm 86:15
Friends, a vital part of prayer is accepting God’s love for us. He loves us even we don’t deserve it. He loves us with a never-ending love. However, we tend to push that love away. We think that what we have done is too shameful or wrong, God could not possibly love us. Even worse, we seek love and acceptance from people rather than from God. Think of it as giving and receiving a hug. You can’t give a hug without receiving it, and vice versa. Accept God’s unconditional hug. The BEST hug you will ever receive.
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. -Martin Luther
When we follow these 4 easy steps to conversation with God, we release our control and anxieties, thank God for everything-even difficulties, speak to him from the depths of our heart, and freely accept his unconditional love for us.
Photo by Jeremy Yap on Unsplash
