Have you ever wondered about the profound essence of prayer?
At its core, prayer is far more than mere words; it’s a direct line of communication with the Divine. It’s a channel through which we connect with God when seeking solace, guidance, and a deeper understanding of our spiritual journey. As stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, we read God’s words for guidance and instruction, for inspiration and encouragement, for reproof and correction.
In response, just as followers of Christ have always done, we humbly approach Him and communicate with Him – sharing about what’s on our minds, our dreams, our aspirations. And while we should share our worries and concerns with Him, let’s not forget another important component of a prayer – giving thanks.
As we spend time communicating with God, we are also opening our hearts and minds to Him, allowing Him to encourage and strengthen us.
Living Church of God reviews five key factors that should be considered while praying to ensure a meaningful communication with God.
How to Pray: 5 Key Factors to Consider
Pray with Faith
In order to get inspired to communicate with God, the best starting point is to acknowledge Him. We know the true God, we are convicted of His existence, and we understand His plan for our salvation through His son Jesus Christ.
Believing in the true God is crucial to having meaningful prayers. If we are not striving for genuine faith in God, our prayers simply become an exercise without conviction.
Pray with Sincerity and Fervency
Sincerity is essential when praying. One should strive for the same sincerity that David showed in the beginning of Psalm 5 when he said, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry” (vv. 1–2).
Do we believe in what we’re doing when we pray? Do we believe in God? Do we believe in the way of life that we read about in His word? Do we believe in the Work that He is doing through His Church today? If not, praying with sincerity will be a real challenge.
This is the beauty of private prayers. There will be instances during which we pray with others, such as before meals, but most of our time in prayer should be in private. When we are alone with God, we don’t need to worry about how we look or sound to others. We can completely focus on God and approach Him with humble sincerity.
Pray with an Understanding of the Bible
Meaningful conversations are difficult to have with someone we barely know. It’s best to begin with “small talk” to get to know them better. The more we get to know them, the easier it becomes to have deeper and more satisfying conversations.
The same could be said about our communication with God. The way we come to know Him better is by studying His mind in print, the Bible.
The more we grow familiar with God’s word, His purpose for mankind, and His will for us, the more that a sense of depth is added to our prayers to Him. And when we properly fear Him, keep His laws, and seek His will, we come into harmony with His mind.
Pray with a Repentant and Forgiving Heart
As stated in Luke 11:4 — And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us” — God wants us to pray with a repentant and forgiving heart.
Having this mindset while communicating with God makes the conversation more meaningful. Being aware of one’s shortcomings fosters humility, while being forgiving of others mirrors HIs character.
Pray with Persistence
God is not our “genie” who is subject to our demands, so we shouldn’t only pray whenever we want or need something in life.
Our prayers should be consistent, persistent, and performed on a regular basis. They should always truly involve God in all aspects – in challenges, in faith, and also in the conviction that God knows what is in our best interest.
Prayer is a vital component of our relationship with God. It is a companion to Bible study, fasting, meditation, and active obedience, completing the process of learning.
It is time alone with Him – a private, personal moment that only one shares with the Almighty.