Written by Amanda Kassian
If I could’ve changed one thing about my faith journey when I was younger, I wish I would’ve learned more about prayer and how to pray.
As a teenager and young adult, prayer was a last-minute response to a desperate circumstance. It was approaching God with a quick-fix-request that often lacked gratitude, deep purpose, or time for a response.
Prayer wasn’t modelled for me in my home or in my community growing up, so prayer was unfamiliar to me. When I became a Christian, prayer seemed like one of those things that everyone just knew how to do, and I just missed out on that Sunday school lesson. And praying in front of people? Forget it. I would be the last to pray in public.
It wasn’t until my early to mid-twenties that I learned how to pray. I learned the meaning, value, and effectiveness of prayer. Once began practicing how to pray, my relationship with God grew deeper in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I talked with God about the big and small things whether I was in a good season or a hard season. Prayer became a way of life.
What is prayer?
Simply put, prayer is personal communication with God.
We were designed in the image of God; therefore, we were designed to reflect, depend on, and relate to God. We were designed to be in communication with the One who created us.
For a relationship to exist, communication must be present, otherwise, the relationship will not prosper. If we want growing, thriving relationships—we must become good communicators! The same principle applies to prayer. God desires fellowship with us and He delights in it!
How do I pray?
I learned to pray when I did Kay Arthur’s study, Lord, Teach Me to Pray. I learned to follow the model Jesus provides in Matthew 6 (The Lord’s Prayer). To this day, this prayer serves as a guide for my personal prayers and when I pray for others. In Matthew 6:9-13, it says:
“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.’”
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. I always begin my prayers with praise, gratitude, and adoration for who God is. Recognizing that God is both my Father and my King reminds me that He is in control, He is sufficient, He is caring and loving, and because He is seated in heaven, He is above all. The word, “hallowed,” means “holy, honored, revered.” God is set-apart and there is none like Him! Beginning my prayers with acknowledgment of who God is postures my heart appropriately for my prayers.
Your Kingdom Come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I acknowledge that God’s purposes are greater than my own. Here, I yield to His will for my life and the purposes of His kingdom. Oftentimes, we miss this part of our prayers when we only ask for the things we desire. When I surrender to God’s purpose and will for my life, I am expressing my faith and trust in Him by recognizing that His purposes are greater than my own.
Give us this day our daily bread. I ask God for the small things (my daily bread). I ask God to give me only what I need for today. At times, I have faced a difficult trial or decision and I needed something from the Lord to help me get through it. Sometimes it was wisdom in how to handle a friendship. Focus and energy to complete an assignment or exam. Comfort to get through a difficult break-up. After we acknowledge who God is, His care for us, and that His purposes are greater than our own, we can confidently approach Him over the smaller things that we need for a given day or given season.
…and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Prayer includes confession and repentance. Forgiveness is our greatest gift through Jesus! We exemplify the work of the cross, our love for God, and our love for others when we ask for forgiveness of our sins and the sins of others. The Bible teaches that there are some things that can hinder our prayers. Some include sin, disobedience, unforgiveness, or lack of faith. I always want to approach God with a “clean slate.” If I have known sin that I have not addressed before God, or I am harboring bitterness in my heart toward someone, I seek to confess those things before Him so that my prayers are not hindered. Confession and forgiveness restore my fellowship with God.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Prayer includes asking God for the strength to obey. Obedience pleases God! The Bible assures us that we will face trials in this life (James 1:2, John 16:33), but God never tempts us (James 1:6). We have the choice to give in to our desires and temptations, but God will always provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). Here, we ask God to provide the strength we need to not give in to our temptations so we can seek to obey what God has commanded us to do.
Learning to Pray Is a Journey
God continues to teach me dependence on Him and to never cease in praying. We will never outgrow learning to pray. Ultimately, Jesus is our example if we want to learn how to pray. I encourage you to dive deeper and read the scriptures and learn from His example! The Lord’s Prayer is a great model to follow when it comes to the practice of prayer. As I mentioned before, it doesn’t always have to look or sound this way—God simply wants your heart! But, if you need a starting point to help guide your prayer life, this is a great model to follow (Jesus said so Himself 😉).
Amanda is the Founder and Director of Seen Ministry in Edmonton, Alberta. She is a wife to Matt, mom to three girls, Amery, Callie, and Joey, and Maximus (her black lab). She has a passion to teach the Bible and for women to find freedom in Jesus Christ. She is a former high school teacher and volleyball coach, enjoys a good cup of coffee with a friend, and will never say no to pizza 😉
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