Praying to an invisible God can seem awkward and daunting at first. Especially for those whose idea of God may be tainted. Some people may feel that God hears us only if we “clean up our act” before uttering a prayer. Or they may feel He will only move on our behalf if we lead a squeaky-clean lifestyle.
Yet we must remember that God’s love toward us is unconditional. Our Heavenly Father longs to hear and spend time with His children, regardless of our mishaps and stumbles. He doesn’t ask us only to pray if our prayers are eloquent. Nor does He request that we clean up our lives before approaching Him.
Rather, He is looking for a humble and sincere heart.
But how does one—specifically a new believer—begin praying to God?
Let’s see what the Bible says about addressing our prayers.
How Does Jesus Say We Should Pray to God?
As believers, we must look to Jesus as our model of faith. No, that doesn’t mean we will lead a perfect, sinless life; rather, we must strive daily to walk in His footsteps.
If that is our goal, then let’s consider Jesus’ prayer life when He walked the earth.
He was known to pray often and to pray alone. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He also instructed us to pray to our Father in secret (Matthew 6:6).
He also instructed followers to pray together. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus wanted His followers to pray for others too. As Christians, our prayers shouldn’t be totally self-focused. Jesus prayed for others many times while He was on earth.
Jesus taught us to pray in faith. He told his disciples to believe they would receive whatever they asked of God (Mark 11:24). When we pray, we must believe that God will answer our prayers according to His will rather than ours.
The best example of how Jesus said we should pray is found in Matthew 6:9-13:
“‘This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today 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 the evil one.”
This is the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus instructed His followers to pray. It can be considered a model prayer (and a simple one) that outlines the essential elements of a prayer.
The prayer begins by addressing God as “Our Father in heaven,” a reminder that we have been adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5). Loving parents always endow special favor upon their children and never fail to serve as a listening ear to their requests.
This prayer then acknowledges God’s sovereignty and holiness, praising Him as “hallowed be your name” and asking that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We should always enter our prayer times intending to request His will be accomplished rather than our own. This will keep us from using prayer as a means by which we seek to gain everything we desire. (God isn’t a genie, after all.)
If we begin our prayers by magnifying God, we will be less likely to avoid highlighting or even idolizing our requests and problems over the One who can solve them.
The Lord’s Prayer is uttered with adoration and thanksgiving for God’s goodness. It continues with a request for forgiveness of sins, strength to resist temptation, and deliverance from evil.
We, too, can enter our prayers with a humble and sincere heart, trusting that God is sovereign and that He cares for our needs. Then we can express our total dependence upon Him.
Lastly, we do not need to view prayer as a performance. Earlier in this chapter (Matthew 6), we see that Jesus instructs His disciples to avoid being like the Gentiles who babbled on and on—likely an attempt to “show off” or to gain favor. Rather, Jesus said, “your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him” (verse 8).
In other words, how we say the prayer, our eloquent speech, and the terminology we use are not as important as the attitude of the prayer—the condition of our hearts as we enter God’s presence.
Can We Express Doubts When We Pray to God?
Many Christians intentionally or unconsciously distance themselves from God for fear of being rejected. They may feel that God is a distant God, and He would not be pleased with their questions or doubts. So, they avoid prayer altogether.
Doing this, however, is exactly what the enemy wants. It’s his goal to thwart our relationship with our Father.
You see, God will not shun or reject us for expressing doubts, fears, hesitations, or questions. He not only welcomes us to share these with Him, but He understands. He knows our hearts even before we come before Him in prayer. And He will not condemn us for being sincere in our prayers. God wants our prayers to be sincere!
If we can release our doubts and questions to God, He can provide us with the answers we need. But He can’t do that if we remain hesitant to share these doubts with Him. We must continue to ask, just as Jesus instructed in Matthew 7:7-8:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
In the Old Testament, Moses expressed his doubt to God when he said, “‘Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?’” (Exodus 14:11)
In the New Testament, even Jesus himself said, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46)
Our doubts can actually pave the way for our faith to grow. How? Because the process of doing this puts our pride aside. It involves humbling ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging that we lack the answers and that only God can provide them.
In doing this, let’s maintain trust and faith in God. Let’s be willing to accept the answer He provides, even if it’s not exactly what we wanted.
Can We Express Anger When We Pray to God?
Since God invites us to be sincere with Him, does this also mean it’s okay for us to express anger when we pray?
Many Christians assume this is sinful because of God’s stance against such anger. After all, Ephesians 4:26 says, “‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’” Yes, it is a sin to be consumed by anger, especially if we express it outwardly toward others.
Expressing anger to God, however, is not the same as taking it out on others. Our prayers should be a safe place for us to express our emotions. Why? Because holding this anger within would only make matters worse. Over time, the anger may consume our hearts, minds, and emotions so much that it eventually overflows into our actions.
Let’s consider the Old Testament writers who often poured out their anguish in prayers. They didn’t shy away from presenting their frustrations, anger, and anxieties to God. Instead, they were both honest and truthful.
But we can also notice a pattern in the Psalms. After these writers vented to God, they fixed their eyes on His goodness and faithfulness. They must’ve known that, regardless of their emotions, God was the source of their needs and requests.
Following this model in our prayers can help us gain God’s perspective on our circumstances.
This approach also reminds me of the instructions provided in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
What Are Some Other Great Prayers in the Bible We Can Use?
The Bible is full of model prayers. But remember that these prayers are meant to guide us. They should not be used as a substitute for our own heartfelt prayers; instead, we can turn to them when we need comfort, guidance, hope, and strength.
Here are some of my favorites in Scripture:
- The Prayer of Jabez: “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)
- A Prayer Against Fear: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2)
- A Prayer for Protection: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1-2)
- A Prayer for Comfort and Assurance: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 91:4)
- A Prayer During Suffering: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
If you are a new Christian struggling to build a prayer life, I encourage you to dive deep into Scripture. Meditate on these biblical prayers, as well as verses about prayer. Then lift your gaze to the One who never leaves your side. He is your Heavenly Father, your Creator, and He invites you to commune with Him in constant conversation.
This should not be merely a religious activity. Prayer isn’t meant to be limited to Sunday mornings or before meals. Rather, God intended for prayer to be a lifestyle. This is why we are reminded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.”
Prayer is an opportunity for us to draw closer to our Savior and take authority against the evil in this world.
This should be good news if you’ve ever felt the need to “clean up your act” before approaching God’s throne room. God wants you to come as you are. There is no place for masks in His presence.
Your Heavenly Father longs to hear from you.
Will you accept His invitation?
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ChristinLola
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