The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.

Matthew 6:7-8 (Message)

 

It is comforting to know that we do not need to work up a perfect prayer for God to answer to us. We have the perfect Father who knows what we want, so we can trust that He will take care of everything. It is because of God’s perfect love that we have the freedom and faith to ask for anything. Even if all our prayers are not answered exactly when or how we want, we can be confident that our Father is capable of working things out for our good and His glory.

So, don’t pray because you need something. This makes it more like a transaction and less like a relationship. We pray because we love God and enjoy His fellowship. Jesus said that God more about our needs than we do ourselves. In saying that, Jesus wants our prayers to be simple and childlike.

Sometimes we try to make prayer too complicated by using too many words or trying to sound smart. One simple prayer, said with a quickened awareness of the Father's love, can have a profound effect.

If prayer is not your strong point, you can follow the example of the disciples by asking, "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus will guide you on a journey of true and intimate conversations with the Father. These genuine conversations with God may help you see beyond your circumstances and give you insight, wisdom, and clarity. You might be surprised by what you find.

Knowing the gospel truth of who you are and what you have in Christ makes you more effective in your prayers. This enables you to take hold of His authority and power and pray accordingly.