Prayer Guide

So, you want a deeper prayer life?

Every follower of Jesus wants a stronger prayer life. But if we’re honest, many of us feel stuck.
Some don’t know where to start.


Some have tried, but it feels awkward—like you're just talking to the ceiling.
Others have prayed for years but hit a dry season where it feels more like a routine than a relationship.

Whatever camp you're in, hear this:
You’re not alone—and you’re not broken.

George Müller once said, “Pray until you pray.”
In other words, stay in that posture. Do the external act of praying until your heart catches up.
It may start as discipline, but over time, it becomes delight.

What is this guide?

This isn’t a deep-dive theology of prayer or a step-by-step prayer formula. There are great resources for that.


What you’ll find here are a few simple rhythms—things I’ve personally practiced—that have helped breathe life into my prayer walk.

Think of it like spiritual fitness.
You don’t always feel it right away. It might feel awkward at first.
You may not remember the exact moment it “clicked”—but over time, you’ll feel it.
You’ll grow. You’ll change. You’ll get stronger.

What is Prayer?

At its core, prayer is talking to God.
It’s how we communicate with Him—honestly, directly, and personally. Prayer happens both privately and with others.

Jesus modeled private prayer in Matthew 6:6, telling us to go into our room, shut the door, and talk to our Father in secret.


But He also gave us a collective prayer—the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13)—which starts with “Our Father,” not “My Father.”


Prayer is both intimate and communal.

Whether you’re alone in your room or gathered with your church family, prayer connects your heart to God’s—and it’s essential to spiritual life.

My prayer is that these simple practices give you traction, stir up hunger, and draw you deeper into God’s presence.


May your prayer life move from duty to desire—and may you see Him move powerfully in and through you.

How often should I pray?

You should pray a lot. Like, all the time.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 6:18

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Philippians 4:6

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

A simple way to build consistency in prayer is to treat it like bookends to your day.
Start your day in prayer—before you check your phone, before your feet hit the ground, hit your knees and spend time with God.


End your day the same way—reflect, repent, give thanks, and pour your heart out to Him.

It doesn’t have to be long. Even a few focused minutes to acknowledge His presence, invite His guidance, and posture your heart toward Him can change everything.

And throughout the day, talk to God as often as you can.


He’s not just at the beginning and end—He’s with you in every moment.

Prayer Practices

Praying the Scriptures

Reading Scripture should be part of your daily spiritual rhythm.
It’s not just about gaining knowledge—it’s a time to recognize that the same Spirit who inspired the Word lives in you, and He wants to speak directly to your heart.

·       Some verses are promises to cling to.

·       Some are truths to believe.

·       Some are commands to obey.

·       Some are stories to learn from.

As you read, ask: “Lord, what are You speaking to me?”

Then respond in prayer:

• “Lord, I believe this” — or, “Help me believe this.”

• “I stand on Your promise.”

• “What does this mean, Lord?”

• “I commit to obey this” — or, “Help me obey.”

Every verse is a chance to meet with God.
Don’t just read the Word—pray through it, respond to it, and let it shape you.

Praying the Psalms

For centuries, the Church has turned to the Psalms as a prayer book and songbook for God’s people.
Many of the Psalms are written as direct prayers to God, expressing everything from deep sorrow to unshakable trust.

Open them up. Read them out loud. Let their words become your own.
They give language to your praise, your pain, your confusion, and your confidence.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start with Psalm 119—a 176-verse cry of devotion, longing, and surrender directed entirely to God.
Let the Psalms guide your heart as you learn to pray with honesty, passion, and faith.

Contemplative Prayer

Sometimes we get stuck in prayer because we’re at a loss for words.
But what if I told you—God isn’t impressed with long, flowery prayers?
What if I told you He’s completely fine with you just sitting in His presence?
Prayer doesn’t have to be a wordy exercise reserved for “super-Christians” with impressive vocabularies.

The truth is: the person with few words can have a deeper, more powerful prayer life than the one with many words.

Matthew 6:7–8

“When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2

“Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

When I realized that God wants my heart, my mind, and my attention more than He wants my words, it freed my prayer life—and took it to a new level of experiencing His presence.

Contemplative prayer requires no words—just stillness.


Sit with God. Be in His presence. Enjoy the breath He’s giving you. Let thoughts of Him flood your mind, without the pressure to say anything.
It’s resting in God’s presence, cultivating attentiveness, and listening more than speaking.

Psalm 119:15

“I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.”

This isn’t about emptying your mind into some passive or altered state.
It’s about filling your mind with the truth of God’s Word and the reality of His presence.

It might feel strange at first—but give it a chance.
Make contemplative prayer part of your rhythm, and watch how it deepens your connection to Him.

ACTIS

Sometimes I use the acronym ACTIS to guide my prayer. It helps keep my heart focused and balanced.

A — Adoration

Start by worshiping God for who He is—His character, nature, and mighty works.
Lift your eyes and give Him the honor He deserves.

C — Confession

Be honest. Open your heart. Confess specific sins—whether in action, thought, or attitude—and bring them into the light.

T — Thanksgiving

List God’s blessings—big and small. Gratitude shifts your perspective and reminds your soul of His faithfulness.

I — Intercession

Stand in the gap for others—your family, your church, your city, even those who won’t pray for themselves. Intercession is how we love others through prayer.

S — Supplication

Now bring your personal requests—needs, desires, dreams. God is a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children.

Praying in Concentric Circles

Picture concentric circles—starting small and expanding outward. This is a simple way to structure your prayers with intentional focus.

• Start with yourself.

• Then pray for your immediate family.

• Then your church community.

• Your friends and sphere of influence.

• Your city.

• Your country.

• And finally, the nations.

In each circle, choose one or two people or needs to lift up.
You can also rotate the type of prayer in each circle—thanksgiving in one, intercession in another, confession, supplication, or adoration.

This rhythm keeps your prayer life fresh, intentional, and expansive—starting with you and reaching the world.

Pray in the Spirit

Sometimes, I don’t know what to pray—but my spirit longs to pray.
In those moments, I pray in the Spirit—with groanings and words I don’t fully understand.
I trust the Holy Spirit is interceding through me, praying God’s perfect will.

Romans 8:26–27

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…”

1 Corinthians 14:1–2, 4

“Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God… The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”

Daily Prayers

So far, we’ve talked about what prayer is and explored practical ways to build it into your life.
Now I want to share a few daily prayers I return to often.


They’re short, honest, and powerful—and they help re-center my heart, realign my focus, and keep me walking in surrender.

The Lord’s Prayer

In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer—a simple, powerful model for prayer.
The early Church prayed it three times a day. I recommend committing it to memory.

Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Serenity Prayer

This prayer has brought peace to many in difficult seasons.
It’s especially helpful when you're battling control, anxiety, or uncertainty.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.


Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace…


trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will,
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

Prayer of Gratitude

Lord, my life is full, and I am deeply blessed.
By Your grace, may my gratitude—for life and everything You’ve given—be evident to everyone I encounter.

Prayer of Purpose

Lord, You created me for a purpose.
What I do today matters.
By Your grace, I will walk in the calling You’ve given me—today.

Prayer of Diligence

Lord, You’ve given me the dignity of being useful.
By Your grace, I will be faithful and diligent—even in what feels small or unseen.

Prayer of Witness

Lord, You created me to be a witness.
By Your grace, I will share the love and Gospel of Jesus with those I encounter today.

Conclusion

Remember: prayer is simply talking to God. Don’t overthink it—just start. This guide is meant to remove the excuse of “I don’t know what to pray.” The ball is in your court now. It’s on you to prioritize your communion with God. And if you do, I believe this simple guide can become a tool God uses for major transformation in your life.

My Prayer For You

Heavenly Father,
For the one reading this, I pray You would empower them by Your grace to deepen their devotion to You.
May these practices become a pathway into Your presence and power.

Let them treasure their time with You.
Let prayer become a joy, not a burden—a delight, not a duty.
Meet them where they are.
Show mercy.
And ignite a fire in their soul that they’ve never experienced before.

Help them endure.
Help them not grow weary in seeking You.

Teach them to rest in Your presence,
trust in Your promises,
meditate on Your Word,
obey Your commands,
and walk in Your power.

In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!