How Do I Pray If I Never Prayed Before?

Praying before God can initially seem like a very intimidating thing to do, especially if you have never done it before.

You may have had some church background before accepting Christ and have an idea of what prayer looks like. Others may not come from any religious background and have absolutely no idea what prayer is like. Either situation is completely ok. God can use every part of your story!

What is Prayer

Prayer is just “talking to God.” It’s just a conversation between you and Him.

You can share with God whatever is on your heart. He is always ready to listen to you anytime day or night.

What Should You Pray to God About

There are endless things you can pray including the following:

What Does Prayer Look like

Prayer can look different and the topics of prayer can vary depending on your need at the time. For example, you can pray…

Praying Alone

The first time you pray alone as a new believer might feel strange to you. However, all you have to do is share your heart with God. Your words don’t have to be formal. You can talk to God like you would a trusted friend.

The amazing thing is God wants to hear from you, and you can reach Him anytime day or night. You can pray to Him in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep or when you are driving your car on your way to work.

You can pray quietly in your heart, or you can pray to Him out loud. You can talk to God as often as you want and He will never get tired of listening to you.

Praying is a beautiful way to draw near to God.

Psalm 73:28

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

Praying with Others

When you pray with others, focus on only talking to God. Try not to think about what others might be thinking. In the beginning, you may feel uncomfortable praying in front of others. God doesn’t want you to feel that way.

Make sure you don’t compare your prayers to how others pray. We don’t know the spiritual journey others are on or how long it has taken for them to get where they are at. Remember that none of us have arrived. We are all a work in progress.

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

So many times, when I pray with others who are newer to praying to God and in front of others, I am brought to tears because of the beautiful words that have spoken from the heart.

Different Types of Prayer

There are different types of prayer. Some include the following:

Early in my walk with Jesus, I learned about ACTS which is…

Adoration – Praise God for who He is. When we start with this, we are acknowledging His power over every situation and circumstance.

Confession – Confess your sins to God. He already knows what your sins are. Confession is more about getting right before God. He loves you unconditionally and will forgive you.

Thanksgiving – Tell God what you are thankful for. Where can you see God at work? What has He done in your life?

Supplication – This is where you bring your prayer requests before the Lord. He will hear each and every word.

Growing up Catholic, I knew the Our Father. Although at times, the Our Father can seem a little formal, however, if you read the words carefully and let them sink in; it makes a lot of sense. This is how Jesus said we should pray.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)

“Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Your is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

As a Christian, this is where you just share with God what is on your heart. There is no particular order of praying things. You may share your burdens with God first and then acknowledge His character traits and worship Him and thank Him at the end of your prayer. It’s completely up to you.

Praying in the Name of Jesus

Praying to God in Jesus’ name, you are just acknowledging that Jesus is Lord over all. We are coming to God through Jesus in prayer. This is a way of expressing our faith, recognizing that He has done for us on the cross and showing Him that we trust Him.

John 16:23

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

Bible Verses on Prayer:

You can pray to God about everything!

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

It is recommend to pray often and continuously.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

What to Expect When Praying for the First Time

You may feel uncomfortable. But, as with anything new, if you keep practicing, you will feel more relaxed praying by yourself and with others over time.

God loves you! He created you! He wants to hear from you!

If You Are the First-Generation Christian in Your Family:

Praying may be foreign to you and your family but as a First-Generation Christian, you will be stepping out and doing a lot of “firsts.” I would encourage you to seek out a mentor or attend a small group at your church. These things will help you to grow in the area of prayer.

If you don’t attend a Bible believing church, check out Why Should I Go to Church?

If you have a mentor or are regularly attend a small group; you can listen to the prayers others are praying at first and then start to pray when you are ready.

All verses are NIV unless otherwise specified.

Helpful Resources:

Below are some books on prayer by some trusted Biblical teachers. Please click the links below to learn more about each book on prayer.

Prayer: The Ultimate Conversation by Charles Stanley

Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur

Affiliate Disclosure: “The links under the Helpful Resource” page of my blog are affiliate links. If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I personally trust and believe will benefit first generation Christians.”

Reflection Questions:

Challenge:

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for providing a way for me to pray to You and for You to hear my prayers. Thank you for loving me and choosing for me to be a part of your incredible family. Help me to grow in the area of prayer and feel more comfortable praying to You when I am alone or with others.

I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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