How to Pray? #2

 

This may be easy for people to know. But there may be some that really aren't sure, so I want to cover it today.

When I younger, I remember going to a little country church that when the Pastor prayed, the congregation would kneel beside their seats.

Later on, in other churches that I went to, we stood when someone prayed.

Still later when I went to a Pentecostal church, we raised our hands during prayer.

And what about home? Are there ways at home that we should pray?

There are biblical accounts where some laid prostrate to pray. (I will cover this type of prayer in tomorrow's post.)

And so the question for today is, what is the best way to pray. For some answers, we will once again look at what gotquestions.org has to say about it.

What is the Proper Way to Pray?

Is it best to pray standing up, sitting down, kneeling, or bowing down? Should our hands be open, closed, or lifted up to God? Do our eyes need to be closed when we pray? Is it better to pray in a church building or out in nature? Should we pray in the morning when we get up or at night before we go to bed? Are there certain words we need to say in our prayers? How do we begin our prayers? What is the proper way to close a prayer? These questions, and others, are common questions asked about prayer. What is the proper way to pray? Do any of the above things even matter?

Far too often, prayer is viewed as a “magic formula.” Some believe that if we do not say exactly the right things, or pray in the right position, God will not hear and answer our prayer. This is completely unbiblical. God does not answer our prayers based on when we pray, where we are, what position our body is in, or in what order we word our prayers. We are told in 1 John 5:14-15 to have confidence when we come to God in prayer, knowing He hears us and will grant whatever we ask as long as it is in His will. Similarly, John 14:13-14 declares, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” According to these and many other Scriptures, God answers prayer requests based on whether they are asked according to His will and in the name of Jesus (to bring glory to Jesus).

So, what is the proper way to pray? Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to pray without being anxious, to pray about everything, and to pray with thankful hearts. God will answer all such prayers with the gift of His peace in our hearts. The proper way to pray is to pour out our hearts to God, being honest and open with God, as He already knows us better than we know ourselves. We are to present our requests to God, keeping in mind that God knows what is best and will not grant a request that is not His will for us. We are to express our love, gratitude, and worship to God in prayer without worrying about having just the right words to say. God is more interested in the content of our hearts than the eloquence of our words.

The closest the Bible comes to giving a “pattern” for prayer is the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Please understand that the Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer we are to memorize and recite to God. It is an example of the things that should go into a prayer—worship, trust in God, requests, confession, and submission. We are to pray for the things the Lord’s Prayer talks about, using our own words and “customizing” it to our own journey with God. The proper way to pray is to express our hearts to God. Sitting, standing, or kneeling; hands open or closed; eyes opened or closed; in a church, at home, or outside; in the morning or at night—these are all side issues, subject to personal preference, conviction, and appropriateness. God’s desire is for prayer to be a real and personal connection between Himself and us.
(source: gotquestions.org If you are interested on further study, please check them out.)

So there you are, Friends. I truly believe that as this articles says, it doesn't matter how or where we pray. We don't even have to shake the heavens with our prayers to get answers. However, if we are in a crisis mode and need to cry out to God for his answer to us, that kind of prayer is quite acceptable. 

Some important things to remember is that we as Christians are sincere when we call upon God for His answers. To be thankful and know that He is in control and answers us in His own time, His own way.

Thanks for coming by today as always. I am thankful for each of you! God bless you

What is Prayer? #1

 

What is Prayer?

Well, we know that it is our communication to God. But I like the following description of prayer from gotquestions.org that gives us a deeper meaning of prayer:

The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.

Prayer can be audible or silent, private or public, formal or informal. All prayer must be offered in faith (James 1:6), in the name of the Lord Jesus (John 16:23), and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). As the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia puts it, “Christian prayer in its full New Testament meaning is prayer addressed to God as Father, in the name of Christ as Mediator, and through the enabling grace of the indwelling Spirit” (“Prayer” by J. C. Lambert). The wicked have no desire to pray (Psalm 10:4), but the children of God have a natural desire to pray (Luke 11:1).

Prayer is described in the Bible as seeking God’s favor (Exodus 32:11), pouring out one’s soul to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15), crying out to heaven (2 Chronicles 32:20), drawing near to God (Psalm 73:28, KJV), and kneeling before the Father (Ephesians 3:14).

Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). Worry about nothing; pray about everything.

Everything? Yes, God wants us to talk with Him about everything. How often should we pray? The biblical answer is “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). We should keep a running conversation going with God all day long. Some find the ACTS formula of prayer helpful, but there is really no special formula for how to pray in the Bible. We should just do it. We can pray under any and all circumstances. Prayer develops our relationship with God and demonstrates our trust and utter dependence upon Him.

(source: gotquestions.org)

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed evening.

Coming Monday: A Study on Prayer

 

Hello Friends. Starting Monday, I want to begin an indepth study on prayer. The questions I will be trying to answer may cover but will not be limited to the following, in no special order:

What is prayer?

Are there different ways to pray?

Why is the Lord's Prayer significant for us today?

What is intercessory prayer?

Is it ok to pray for the same thing over and over?

Should our prayers always align with God's will?

...and more.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I will not be posting any content for tomorrow or on Sunday, but I hope...and pray...that you will join me on this important subject starting Monday.

God bless you and yours this weekend!

Emmanuel/ Jesus God with Us

 

How to Pray Through the Entire Year – One Month at a Time  

Whitney Hopler Updated Dec 29, 2025

December: Pray for an awareness of God with you as Immanuel.

SLIDE 12 OF 12

December, with its focus on Advent and Christmas, directs your attention to the wonder of the Incarnation. This month, pray for a deeper appreciation of the fact that Jesus chose to enter this fallen world to save you and all of creation. Focus on the message the angels proclaimed on the first Christmas, as Luke 2:14 records: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Pray for the courage to share the Gospel with the people in your life this Christmas season. Ask God to work through your life to bring peace and love to your community this month, and beyond. December’s prayer focus can help you stay mindful of the real reason for Christmas and inspire you to be more aware of God’s constant presence with you from day to day. 

In conclusion, by lining up your prayer life with the months of the year, you can keep your prayers fresh and keep growing spiritually while discovering God’s wonder through the year. The months of the year may change, but your faithful God remains the same!

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

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Whitney Hopler has given us so much to think on and pray about over the next year. I don't know about you, but I appreciate all she has done to help us keep our eyes on Jesus.

Of course, if any of these 12 prayer suggestions can be remembered, it is the one for this month, December.

However, I would like to suggest that we pray several of them every day in our prayer time. 

Perhaps it would help to keep track of them in a notebook, to remind us of how to pray each day.

It's a suggestion at any rate, to do something a little different with them.

Whatever you decide in your own personal life though, please consider signing up with crosswalk. They have so much there for we as Christians can benefit from. 

This series is a really good one. And there are plenty more.

Thanks for coming over today, Friends. 

May this year be the start of a really good one for each and every one of you that find their way here every day. 

And remember, no matter what happens,

God still reins! Amen!

Be Holy as He is Holy?

How to Pray Through the Entire Year – One Month at a Time

Whitney Hopler November:    Pray for Holiness

SLIDE 11 OF 12

Leading into the end of the year, November is a wonderful time to focus your prayers on holiness. Living a holy life doesn’t involve trying to be perfect; it involves just doing your best to reflect God’s character. Pray for the Holy Spirit to sanctify you by removing anything in your life that leads you to sin and distances you from God, and by helping you to make choices that lead you closer to God every day. The Bible urges you in 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

Ask God to help you confess sin quickly and to live a life that honors him as your loving and holy Heavenly Father. Pray for the courage to say “no” to temptation and the passion to say “yes” to God’s will. The more you pray for holiness, the more you’ll grow into the person God wants you to become, and the more you’ll experience blessings as a result of that.  

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I don't think we as most humans see ourselves of being holy.

(if we are honest with ourselves)

We are too sinful.

And God hates our sin.

However, He calls us to a holiness that we could never be

 without the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

It is something we should try to stive for

in our daily walk with God.

Be holy, as I am holy.

Help us God to become holy as you are holy.

Because you have called us through the Blood of Your Son. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed day!

 

Heavens and Earth

 

How to Pray Through the Entire Year – One Month at a Time

Whitney Hopler

Updated Dec 29, 2025

October: Pray for an awareness of God’s wonder in creation.

SLIDE 10 OF 12

As leaves on the trees around you turn bright colors in October, it’s a beautiful time to pray to become more aware of your Creator’s wonder in creation. Romans 1:19-20 points out that every part of nature reveals the wonder of God’s character: “For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” So ask God to help you learn more about him every time you’re outside.

Pray for the ability to see all the details in nature that can teach you valuable truths about God and inspire you with awe! Whenever you can this month, pray outside, such as while taking a wonder walk. Worship God as the wonderful Creator he is while you’re right there in creation, such as while you’re watching a colorful sunset. You can also meditate on Bible verses about God’s wonder in creation, such as Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Ask God to help you find and connect with him every time you’re in creation, and look forward to appreciating his creative genius.

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It never ceases to amaze me how some people question the existence of God. Or can't see Him. All we have to do to find Him is look around His creation. He may be hidden from us physically and in a body form. But He hides in plain sight.

It does take faith to believe in God. Someday, we will see Him face to face in all of His glory. But for now, I believe that this is one way He chooses to reveal Himself to us.

Thrue His creations and more importantly through His written Word. 

His creation is a gift to us. To let us not forget that He is with us. That He loves us. A reminder of what is good among what is evil until the day comes that all evil will be done away with, by His hand.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a wonderful, blessed day. And even though it is still winter, even this can be a thing of beauty if we look for God in it