How do I pray? This is a common question that many have, and behind it, lie so many more questions. Where should I pray? Do I need to pray with my eyes closed? What should I call God when I'm in prayer? What do I pray about? Let’s delve into some of these common questions.
Where and when should we pray to God? The short answer is anywhere and everywhere. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” God cares less about the specifics when we pray, but instead the state of our hearts when we do. (James 4:3 ) Are we praying according to our own selfish desires? Or are we instead seeking the will and heart of God in our prayers? Once our hearts are aligned with Him, our prayers can flow freely and we can pray according to His Will. While seeking God in prayer, it also may be beneficial for us to find a space to focus. A quiet place (“secret place”) without many distractions will help us focus in on the Holy Spirit, and will produce more effective prayer time.
Do I have to pray on my knees with my eyes closed? There are many positions that beleivers choose while praying. On their knees, eyes closed, standing up, sitting. However, there is no specific position, that God requires while in prayer. The only requirement that God has is that we seek Him often with a pure heart. “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually” (Psalm 105:4 ).
What do we call God when in prayer? God has many names throughout the Bible, some scholars say there are as many as 24 names. (Site this) You may find you use different names as you pray, applying a name to the uniqueness of your specific prayer. For example, you may pray to the Lord who heals, Jehovah Rapha, when speaking healing over yourself or someone else. Regardless of what name you choose, God desires us to call on Him with respect and honor. Some start prayer with Almighty Father, Father God, Heavenly Father, dear God, Jesus, Jehovah, and even Yahweh.
What do I pray about? The options are endless, as we are told in scripture to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). Praying to God is much like catching up with an old friend. Start with a greeting and thanksgiving for all He has done, then follow up by stating things you or others are struggling with while seeking His wisdom and guidance in those areas. If you are unsure of what to pray about, Mathew 6:5-14 gives us a good place to start.
In conclusion, Prayer is one of the most important things we can do on the journey of getting to know God. It is a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare when done often and with the right heart and intentions. We as believers can get distracted by the specifics of prayer, but God is more concerned about developing a personal relationship with us and hearing from us often. He will be attentive to our prayer when we put forth the effort. 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer…”
References
"What is a Prayer?" GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/how-to-pray.html
"A Simple Guide to Prayer" Wildernesstrek.org https://www.wildernesstrek.org/project/simple-prayer-guide/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXfpN3P2mowv1diBxrjHcLLgXdrvSBfY9pqkYQWXubjraC817FYrnVRoCwJMQAvD_BwE
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