How to Pray as a Christian
In Christianity, prayer can be both a thanksgiving for God’s goodness and a cry for God’s help. Method and language matter less than openness and honesty, since prayer should be a conversation between you and God.
Up next in Christian Beliefs, Prayer & Practice (7 videos)
Brush up on your religious education with this Howcast video series about Christian beliefs, prayer, and practice.
You Will Need
- Five minutes to yourself
- An open mind and heart
- Quiet and solitude (helpful, but not necessary) (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Ask God to be with you
Start by asking God to be with you.
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Step 2
Give thanks
Recall those things for which you are most grateful.
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You may express thanks for your family and health or much smaller things, like the meal you just shared with a friend or the joy you felt at seeing the sun after a rainstorm.
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Step 3
Replay events
Replay the events of the day or past several days, almost like a movie, taking note of where you accepted Jesus’s invitation and where you didn't.
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A good time to pray is often at night, when things are usually calmer and you can look back on the day that’s just come to a close.
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Step 4
Pray for others
Think of other people you want to pray for.
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Step 5
Pray for yourself
Do not hesitate to pray for yourself by requesting help from Jesus.
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Step 6
Ask for forgiveness
Ask for forgiveness for your sins.
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Step 7
Ask for the grace of God
Ask for the grace of God to accompany you the next day.
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In a poll conducted by U.S. News and World Report and Beliefnet.com, 75.8 percent of Christians said they feel it helps when someone prays for them.
