Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Read the whole chapter →
PRAYER
When You Do Not Know How to Pray
Prayer does not require polished religious language. Jesus teaches a pattern; the Psalms teach honesty; Paul shows intercession; and Scripture makes room for silence, lament, thanksgiving, and repeated requests.
Start with Scripture, not a slogan
Read the surrounding chapter whenever you can. A verse can be true and still be misused when it is pulled away from the argument, poem, story, or situation it belongs to.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Read the whole chapter →
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.Read the whole chapter →
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.Read the whole chapter →
A PRACTICAL NEXT STEP
Do one faithful thing today.
Start with one sentence each: God, this is what happened. This is what I feel. This is what I need. This is what I am thankful for. This is what I am willing to do next.
Then choose one action small enough to do today: make the call, write the apology, ask for help, read the chapter, make the appointment, set the boundary, review the budget, or simply tell one trustworthy person what is actually happening.
GUIDED STUDY
Prayer: Learning to Pray Biblically
Jesus’ teaching, the Psalms, persistence, intercession, thanksgiving, lament, and prayer in suffering.
Preview the course →READING PLAN
Psalms in 30 Days
Read the Psalms in thirty daily groups of five.
Open the 30-day plan →GO DEEPER
Research the question
Use the AI Bible Research tool when you need context, competing interpretations, historical background, or a more specific question than this guide covers.
Research this subject →Related Daily Devotionals
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
Family
Family can be wonderful, and family can drive you absolutely crazy. Sometimes both happen in the same day. The people closest to us know us better than anybody else. They know what makes us laugh, what gets on our nerves, what we are afraid of, and where we ar…
Read devotional →Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together. — Hebrews 10:24-25
Why We Need Each Other
It is possible to believe in Jesus and still become isolated. Life gets busy. Church disappoints us. Somebody says something hurtful. We miss a few Sundays, then a few more, and eventually doing faith alone starts to feel normal. There are seasons when health,…
Read devotional →There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Waiting for God's Timing
Waiting is easier when we know the date. If someone says the package will arrive Friday, we can wait until Friday. If the doctor says results will come tomorrow afternoon, at least there is a clock. The hardest waiting has no date attached. You pray for the jo…
Read devotional →Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. — James 1:19
Before You Say It
Some of the worst damage in relationships happens in less than a minute. A sentence gets thrown out in anger, and even after the apology, the words remain in the other person's memory. We tell ourselves, 'I didn't mean it.' Maybe we did not mean to cause lasti…
Read devotional →