Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given His children. Prayer gives us communion with our Heavenly Father, through His Son Jesus. It provides us with spiritual strength and wisdom. Prayer is not only a privilege, but essential to our Christian growth. As the Apostle Paul instructs, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is an example of how to pray to God. This is a good example to use as you develop regular prayer habits. However, Jesus also said repeating the same memorized words, (vain repetitions, Matthew 6:7) is not what God desires. Just as when we talk to a person, we don’t repeat and repeat the exact same words! No, we choose whatever words come from our hearts.

When we approach God, we need to do so with reverence and come to God through Jesus’ name. This shows that we recognize Jesus as our Redeemer and that we are unworthy to approach Jehovah on our own.  John 14:6, 13 and 14

We should always ask God’s will to be done and not our own, even though His will may be contrary to our heart’s desire. Additionally, we must be willing to grow and accept change in our life, if God wills it. In every case, God’s answers to prayers are directly dependent upon our heart attitude and, most importantly, God’s will in relation to the circumstances. Therefore, connection and communication with God grow in proportion to our dedication to God’s will.

Praying for forgiveness for our sins is very important. The Apostle Paul speaks of this as going “boldly unto the throne of grace,” there to obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Prayer is the Christian’s spiritual food and lifeline to God therefore “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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)

Additional Resources:

Download the free PDF: “How God Answers Prayer”

Christian Questions Podcast 
Episode 1294: “How Can I Transform My Prayer Life? (Part I)”
Who God hears, why He says no and how prayer works
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CQ Rewind Show Notes

1295: How Can I Transform My Prayer Life? (Part II)
Discussing the practical everyday questions that make prayer work
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes