How to Pray to God: Benefits of Prayer

Do you ever wonder how to pray to God? Do you feel like praying is out of your reach or that it's just not something you can do? Prayer is an essential part of the Christian walk, and there are many different ways to speak with God. Praying increases your faith and helps you grow in your relationship with God. Learn more about how to pray to God and the many benefits of prayer you’ll experience when you do. 

4 Benefits of Prayer

Prayer is a great way to strengthen your relationship with God and develop the ability to hear His voice. It's also an excellent way to develop patience, perseverance, and selflessness. Rather than prayer being something to cross off on your to-do list, it’s important to be intentional about how to pray to God to experience the benefits of doing so. When life gets busy, it is easy to forget that you need space away from distractions and noise in order to refocus on what matters most: your relationship with Christ. Remind yourself of the benefits of prayer, starting today.

1. Prayer Helps You Grow Your Faith

God wants to hear from you and has provided an opportunity to communicate with Him through prayer. Prayer gives you the chance to share your thoughts and feelings with someone who truly loves and cares about you unconditionally. But the best part is that prayer is not only a time for you to talk to God but to hear from Him as well. It takes faith to pray to Jesus and trust that He listens and cares about what you have to say. The more you take time to grow your relationship with God intentionally, the more your faith will increase.

2. Prayer Improves Your Relationship with Jesus

The core of Christianity is not a religious practice but an intimate relationship, and prayer is a way to improve your relationship with Jesus. Just as you call your parents or spend time with your friends to keep the relationship strong, you also need to spend time with Jesus. Don’t neglect the most important relationship in your life. Connect with God daily through prayer. 

3. Prayer Relieves Stress and Anxiety

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul instructs, “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.” When you turn to prayer in the midst of worry, God promises to give peace in return. If you feel a lot of things weighing heavy on your heart, choose to give everything to God and trust that He’ll work things out for His glory while giving you peace in the midst of it all.

4. Prayer Leads to a More Fulfilling Life

There are so many things to talk to God about when you pray. You may ask God for something specific. You may praise God for the many great things He’s done for you. You may sit quietly and wait to hear from God. One of the benefits of prayer is asking God for guidance and receiving it, whether through prayer, reading His word, or listening to a wise mentor. Living how God wants you to can lead to a more fulfilling life because you are walking in His perfect will.

How to Pray to God to Experience the Benefits of Prayer 

There are many ways to pray. Some people choose silent prayers, while others prefer group or vocal prayers. You can write your prayers in a journal or pray scriptures. Regardless, one of the best ways to learn how to pray to God is by reading Matthew 6, where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. He starts first by saying this:

“‘And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him’” (Matthew 6:5-8).

Jesus goes on to share The Lord’s Prayer, which is the basis of how to pray to God. It goes like this: 

“‘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’” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Here are the most significant takeaways from Jesus’ instructions on prayer:

• Pray sincerely, not to gain attention or praise from others
• Trust that God knows you and hears your prayers when you pray
• When you pray, start by acknowledging God’s sovereignty, then submit your requests to God
• When you pray, ask for forgiveness and guidance for your life

But Did You Pray About It?

There’s no doubt you’re going to go through hard times in your life. Worrying may come naturally during those times, but did you pray about it? You know how to pray to God, so make sure you take time every day to strengthen your relationship with Jesus through prayer. To help you remember to pray first, get the All Things By Faith “But Did You Pray About It?” Christian Shirt today!