How to Pray Like Jesus Taught
How to Pray Like Jesus Taught: A Simple Guide Anyone Can Follow
Have you ever felt like prayer doesn’t work for you? Maybe you’ve tried praying before, but it felt awkward—like talking to the air. Or maybe you’ve heard other people pray with big, fancy words, and you thought, "I could never pray like that."
I used to feel the same way. Then I discovered how Jesus taught His followers to pray. And guess what? It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t about using special words or sounding religious. It was about talking to God like a child talks to a loving father.
If you’ve ever wanted to pray in a way that actually feels real, this is for you. Let’s break it down into simple steps anyone can follow.
1. Find a Quiet Place (But Don’t Stress About It)
Jesus said:
"When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret." (Matthew 6:6)
He wasn’t saying you can only pray in a closet. He was saying: Pray where you can focus.
You don’t need a perfect prayer spot.
It could be your car, your shower, or even just closing your eyes for a minute at work.
The point is to get away from distractions so you can really talk to God.
I used to think I needed to pray for hours in a church to "do it right." Now, some of my best prayers happen when I’m walking my dog or doing dishes.
2. Keep It Simple (God Doesn’t Need Fancy Words)
Some people think prayer has to sound like a Shakespeare play—full of "thee’s" and "thou’s." But Jesus said:
"When you pray, don’t babble on and on like people who don’t know God. They think God will hear them because they talk a lot." (Matthew 6:7, simplified)
You don’t have to impress God. He already loves you. Just talk to Him like you’d talk to a close friend.
It’s okay to say: "God, I’m really stressed today. Help me."
Or even: "I don’t know what to say right now, but I need You."
Some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible are just a few words long.
3. Use the Lord’s Prayer as a Guide
When Jesus’ followers asked Him how to pray, He gave them a simple example (Matthew 6:9-13). We call it "The Lord’s Prayer," but it’s really a model for how we can pray too.
Here’s how you can pray like that today:
A. Start by remembering who God is.
"Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name."
Translation: "God, You are good and powerful. I respect You."
B. Ask for what matters most.
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth like in heaven."
Translation: "Help me want what You want, not just what I want."
C. Ask for what you need today.
"Give us today our daily bread."
Translation: "God, please take care of my needs today."
D. Say sorry and forgive others.
"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
Translation: "I messed up. Please forgive me. And help me forgive [person who hurt me]."
E. Ask for help with tough stuff.
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Translation: "Keep me away from bad choices. Protect me from harm."
You don’t have to say these exact words every time. This is just a way to keep your prayers balanced—not just asking for stuff, but also worshipping, surrendering, and growing.
4. Don’t Give Up Too Fast
Jesus told a story about a woman who kept bothering a judge until he helped her (Luke 18:1-8). Then He said:
"If even an unfair judge will help someone who keeps asking, how much more will your loving Father help you?"
Prayer isn’t a one-time wish list. It’s an ongoing conversation.
If you’ve prayed for something once and nothing happened, try praying again.
Some prayers get answered fast. Others take years.
Even when it feels like God isn’t listening, He is.
I’ve been praying for some family members for over a decade. Things still aren’t perfect, but I’ve seen small changes that keep me hoping.
5. Believe God Hears You (Even When It Feels Like He Doesn’t)
Jesus said:
"Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you’ve received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)
This doesn’t mean you’ll get everything you ask for like a magic genie. But it does mean:
God cares about what you’re praying.
He will answer in the best way—even if it’s not the way you wanted.
Keep trusting Him, even when you can’t see the answer yet.
Final Thought: Prayer Is Just Talking to God
At its core, prayer isn’t about:
Saying the right words
Being "good enough"
Following strict rules
It’s about a relationship with God.
You wouldn’t ignore your best friend for months and then call only when you needed money, right? Same with God. Prayer works best when it’s a real, daily conversation—not just emergency calls when life gets hard.
Try This Today:
Find a quiet moment (even 30 seconds counts).
Talk to God about one thing on your mind—good or bad.
Listen (sometimes God speaks through a quiet thought or Bible verse).
That’s it. No pressure. Just start where you are.
What’s one thing you’ve always wondered about prayer? Let me know—I’d love to hear from you!