I am new to Christianity. Since it is not something I was brought up with, I
feel like I don’t know how to pray or that I am any “good at it”. Could you
explain how?
Dear friend,
This is the very question that the disciples asked Jesus (Luke 11:1) when they
said “Lord, teach us how to pray”, so you are in good company. The notion that
we need to learn to pray seems unreasonable to some people (unlike yourself).
They might think prayer is just talking and listening, so what’s to learn?
(Conversing with the Queen of England is just talking and listening as well,
but there are protocols one follows when entering her presence).
Jesus outlined a model prayer for the disciples to use as they learned to pray
(Mathew 6:9-13).
There is also an old saying that people have used over the years as an outline
for prayer which spells out the word A-C-T-S. All of these characteristics are
found in the Lord’s prayer as well:
A- Adoration….spend a moment acknowledging Gods greatness
C-Confession…spend time agreeing with God about any areas of your life that you
need to change and receive His forgiveness
T- Thanksgiving…give thanks to God not only for his forgiveness, but his many
blessings in your life
S- Supplication…ask humbly & earnestly for any requests you have of the Father.
Pour your heart out as Phil 4:6 encourages, and know that God wants all your
concerns (1Peter 5:7)
At the end of your prayer, thank God for meeting with you and trust in his
answers to your needs according to his plan and purpose in your life.
Some people find it helpful to record their prayers in a small notebook to keep
track of what they have asked for and how God has responded. Remember too, if
you are going through a difficult time, to ask God to show you what you are to
learn from this period in your life (trusting that His love is far greater than
any trial you will endure).
Now friend having said all this, you do know, of course, that God will hear the
smallest of prayers of his children ( those who have accepted Jesus as their
Savior and Lord). We can approach Him with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and know
that the Spirit will intercede for us (Rom 8:26,27) even when we don’t know how
to pray. It is important not to get legalistic with our prayer life, but to
know that God looks more at the heart than our words of expression.
Also let me simply say that prayer is designed more to change us than to change
God. By that I mean that when we turn to God for help, he often changes us
instead of our circumstances. Instead of asking for what we want, we might over
time ask for what He wants…much like when Jesus who asked for God to remove the
cup from him…but then said “nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done”.
Finally my friend, I suggest you commit regular time with God in prayer if you
are not already. You will find yourself over time praying to God throughout the
day…both in small prayers and in longer more thought out prayer time. In every
case, remember that your role as a Christian is all about a loving RELATIONSHIP
with the Father (who loves you just as you are), not a RITUAL or performance to
receive His acceptance. God is simply happy that his child is turning to him at
all. And as time goes on and you grow in your faith, instead of wanting the
things of God, you will want nothing but God alone.
I hope this helps and many blessings to you as you grow in the knowledge of His
love,
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