Ways to Pray
Hello Hope Church! In this uncertain time, we are creating new routines and may have more margin. Perhaps you no longer have a commute, or gatherings with co-workers after work. We urge you to take advantage of these open windows by setting aside dedicated prayer time to God. Here is what has worked for me.
Every day, I sit down with a cup of coffee and my bible. I begin my time with scripture, typically in the New Testament. It’s important not to rush through scripture (this is a constant battle I had when I first started!). I read each verse slowly, reading only 1 to 2 paragraphs and reflecting on what the passage means to me in my life. I remind myself that I am reading the living word. I ask myself… Is this passage an instruction, does it invoke a confession, thanksgiving, or a petition?
After reflecting, I relax into prayer.. I walk through my prayer requests. For each prayer request, whether for myself or a loved one, I enter a conversation with God. I tell Him my emotions or frustrations relating to the situation. I don’t necessarily hear God speaking to me in words, but I feel connected to Him, I feel His presence. This conversational element was the turning point in my prayer life. It was the point where prayer no longer felt like a burden, but a time that I actually enjoyed and looked forward to.
A few tips:
Praise God and tell Him who He is during prayer. During your conversation, exalt God by telling Him who He is and who you need Him to be. A healer, a protector, a comforter, a friend?
Pray where you are. Are you in a time of fear? Frustration? Joy? Talk to Him about it! If you’re angry with Him, tell him (I have told Him my fair share of times!). He simply wants to be with you, no matter what condition you are in.
Expect God to answer your prayers. Not until I began expecting God to answer my prayers did I recognize His workings in my life. I repeat, expect God to answer your prayers!
Ask God to teach you how to pray. There is no one right way to pray. The disciples asked Jesus this question before hearing the Lord’s prayer. Make this a daily prayer request.
Don’t feel bad if you walk away feeling like you didn’t connect with God. God has you exactly where you are supposed to be in your journey. Just make sure you come back tomorrow!
As you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, God will begin to lead your prayers, highlighting certain prayer requests and people. You will feel burdens for situations. You will enter times of contemplative prayer. Your conversations with God will extend past your prayer time to your daily life, the awareness of His presence also extending into your daily activities.
God has a unique design for each of our spiritual journeys. Prayer is a journey. We encourage you to start, and just don’t give up! Please email me, kristen@hopejerseycity.org, if you have any questions, or if you have any prayer tips yourself!
—Kristen Chew