Learn How To Pray for Beginners, Step by Step

I remember when I was 19, I was struggling with financial issues as a first-year student at a top public university. Coming from a broken and low-income family, I could not help but feel very anxious about my finances, so I decided to work part-time.

I went to class in the morning, off to work in the evening, and caught the last train back home each night. It was very tiring and at one point I felt so overwhelmed. Then, I gave up on relying on my own strength and broke down at the LRT station on my last day at work. I prayed, “God, you will provide for me and you will be my strength and my shield. I will surrender to you, all my life, my financial problems, and my studies and I believe you will come through in my situation in Jesus’ name.”

The next semester, I received two scholarships that were more than enough to cover my study fees, accommodation, and basic needs. I have learned to rely on God more and more since then through my prayers and petitions because He is the God that listens, the God of hope and a future.

My pastors always reminded us that there is power in prayer, not only it will shift the spiritual realm, but it will connect us to the Spirit of God. The world is fighting over you and me so we will always be distracted by the world, overwhelmed by our own feelings, and attacked by our enemies. I boldly testify that there is power in our tongues and lips, there is power in prayer in the name of Jesus.

When we pray, we are relying on and surrendering to God. In Matthew 6:8b it says, ” …. for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” God knows all the things that we need before we even ask and pray, but are we willing to be fully dependent on Him?

If you are a pre-believer, you might be wondering how to pray, when to pray, where to pray, or what to pray. Honestly, some church cultures make praying sound very religious, routine, and ritualistic, but the Christian faith is very special because we can have an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Praying is talking to God in an honoring way and strengthening the relationship we have with God. We can pray, however, whenever, and wherever we are because the Spirit of God is always available for everyone. No rules. No conditions. No obligations. Just affection.

Here are simple steps on how to pray :

1. Invite the Holy Spirit

Close the door and get into a personal and private space. Get on your knees and be still. Take this moment to stop thinking of the world, and life issues and shift focus to God. Learn to focus on the Holy Spirit by closing your eyes and getting in the presence. Start by humming songs and speaking in tongues, if you have received the gift of tongues.

“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 14: 2 NIV)

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 NIV)

2. Give Thanks to God

Whenever you are ready to talk, imagine that you are holding Jesus’ hand. Give thanks to Him. Give thanks for everything that comes across your mind, for the blessings, for the people that God put in your life, your studies, your lecturers, teachers, and your parents. Cultivate a heart of thankfulness.

3. Choose a Bible Verse To Pray Over Your Life, Family, or Nation

When you declare a Bible verse, you take a verse that speaks about God’s character, promises, or blessings, and affirm it as true for your own life. You’re making the message of the verse deeply personal.

Instead of just “Lord, give me strength,” you declare, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

4. Talk About the Day

God wants to be closer to us every day. Talk about your day, your work, your school, and just be a friend with Him. He sees us as a friend, as His own child and He wants us to come to Him.

5. Specify Your Request to God

Talk to God specifically, but keep it simple and straightforward. State your concern and ask for help from God. Avoid being in the victim mindset and be affirmed that God will come through.

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8)

6. Ask for Forgiveness

Take some time to confess our sins, but not to condemn ourselves. Pray that God will teach us to move on from our mistakes and learn from them. In 1 John 1:9 it says, “If we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

7. Ask for God’s Will (His Divine Plan and Purpose)

Pray for God’s will over your life and situation. You must believe that God’s will is greater than your own will over your life, and our situation. God will come through it in His timing. Pray that God will help us to prepare our hearts for His will and be fully expectant of God’s will.

8. Surrender to God

You can ask and talk about anything but God knows everything. He has the best plan and He has His own timing. Let your heart surrender to God and learn to rely on Him.

9. Worship

I like to close my prayer by singing songs to Jesus because I want it to be as romantic as two people in love. Express your love to Jesus. He hears us but He really wants to hear from us. Pour your heart out to Him and worship Him because He deserves all your heart.

This is a simple sample prayer;

(1) Holy Spirit I welcome you to this place right here right now. Fill me up and fill this room Holy Spirit my Best Friend. Come and move.

(2) Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for Your love, grace, and mercy for bringing this person to this article. I commit this person to your loving hands that you love him/her so dearly.

(3) Lord, I declare that You will never forget nor forsake this person. You are the God of hope and the future over his/her life. Lord, I declare that You will put in him/her a new heart and a new spirit. You will remove the heart of stone and give a new heart of flesh.

(4) Today, this person is searching and hungry for You and not by accident that he/she is here. So will you come into his/her life once again and let him/her encounter you and may the spirit be filled, fueled, and fed.

(5) Lord, I pray that this person will seek you more and more and feel your holy presence every time he/she prays. I renounce any strongholds over his/her life, and spirit of laziness and busyness, the spirit of lies and condemnation that says he is not worthy to come to you, the spirit of slumber, ego, and pride that tries to hinder him/her from growing closer to you to be broken in Jesus name.

(6) Dear Lord Jesus, we are unworthy but You made us worthy to come before You and You have forgiven us all our sins and pray that You will forgive those who sin against us.

(7) I pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, your will be done in this person’s life, not his/her will. I pray that You will help him/her to guard his/her heart when things don’t go well in life for your will is yet to be seen.

(8) I surrender his/her future to you so that he/she will find the real purpose of praying. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

You are worthy of it all.
You are worthy of it all.
For from You are all things and
To You are all thing.
You deserve the glory.
The more you talk to God, the more you will love God.
The more you seek God, the more you will find God.
The more you pray to God, the more you will depend on God.
Praying is not about only ‘me’ it is always about God.