9 Simple Prayers for Beginners
Share
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer is a Christian discipline and a tool for connecting with God. But even more, prayer is a gift from our Heavenly Father, one that is designed to calm, cheer and change us for the better.
When I first became a Christian, though, I used to be nervous about this holy habit. For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t ready to go before God because I didn’t know enough about what to say. I assumed there was one right way to pray, and I had to be good at it or else I might offend Him.
But through His Word, and the examples of others, I began to understand that God isn’t looking for perfection, but devotion.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White
What Is Prayer?
I’ve often heard prayer defined as “talking to God.” And that is true - but I’ve found that prayer time can consist of much more. For instance, it has led me to moments of silent meditation, quiet listening for His leading, or even singing out what was on my heart at that moment.
One of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of the word “pray” is, “to address God (or a god) with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving.” And we acknowledge that there is only One being that is worthy of all those things.
That description includes several elements of prayer, and reminds us of the variety of ways that we can reach out to Him and still be worshipful.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Why Do We Pray?
Prayer is one of the most intimate and powerful ways that we can connect with our Lord God. He invites us to ask for His help, to seek His wisdom, and to learn more about His will for us. And regular prayer also affects both our attitudes and values:
- It focuses our thoughts on God.
- It reminds us of our need for God.
- It reassures us about God’s goodness.
- It stirs up our desire to give God thanks and praise.
- It softens our hearts toward others.
- It often leads us to acts of service.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Arrangements Photography
How to Pray
The truth is, God is more concerned with our heart attitude than the exact words we say. Actually, if our hearts are in the right place, then our words will naturally be full of respect and awe. The Christian monk John Cassian had this to say about prayer:
"I believe that it is impossible to grasp all the different forms of prayer without great purity of heart and soul. There are as many forms of prayer as there are states of soul. A person prays in a certain manner when cheerful and in another when weighed down by sadness or a sense of hopelessness. When one is flourishing spiritually, prayer is different from when one is oppressed by the extent of one's struggles."
An important and encouraging thing I’ve learned about prayer is that it’s okay to be myself. Everyone is designed by God with our own personality and style of communication. Each of us carries burdens and praises that are unique to our lives. So, as long as we give Him the glory, we can be assured that the Lord will hear our individual voices.
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus gives His disciples some guidelines for prayer. The passage reveals how important a sense of humility, simplicity and trust is when we approach God.
“‘And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him'” (Matthew 6:5-8).
Jesus went on to give an example of how to pray in verses 9-13, which is known today as The Lord’s Prayer. That is a wonderful starting place for anyone who wants to learn what kind of prayer pleases God.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Motortion.jpg
Using Scripture for Prayer
For me, Scripture is the basis for effective prayer time. Taking a passage and lifting it up instantly brings me a sense of connection with the Lord. I’ve spoken verses word-for-word, and claimed promises for myself.
Some books of the Bible are better suited for this than others. I often go to Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah and even the letters of the New Testament for inspiration. Praying this way makes the Bible more personal and reminds me what God’s will is for us.
This is just a sampling of prayers that we can lift up to God in all sorts of circumstances. The Bible verses can help us settle in, and to turn our attention and devotion toward our Heavenly Father.
1. A Simple Prayer to Thank God
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
Abba Father,
The Bible tells of so many blessings You have given to Your people. And I’ve experienced Your goodness many times in my own life as well. I am so grateful to You, Lord, for the kindness You’ve shown me in each and every day.
I pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
2. A Simple Good-Morning Prayer
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).
Lord God,
Good morning, Abba! Thank You for the gift of this new day, full of new mercies. I am looking forward to seeing how You will guide me, and I pray for Your leading to know how I can serve You today.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
3. A Simple Good-Night Prayer
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
Father,
Thank You for walking with me through this day. You equipped me to handle each situation and relationship that I encountered. Now, as I get ready for bed, please settle my mind and heart. Let me rest in the knowledge that You are always watching over me.
I pray this in Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Grace Cary
4. A Simple Prayer for When You Are Worried or Anxious
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).
Dear God,
King David wrote that You are a fortress for us. I am so very grateful for your protection. I know You are faithful, and trust that You are already working in this situation. I thank You in advance for delivering me!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
5. A Simple Prayer for Guidance
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Abba,
You promise to make my path straight. And I thank You that even when I don’t know what to do or say, I can rely on Your guiding hand to show me. Let me walk forward with confidence, wherever You have me go!
I pray in Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
6. A Simple Prayer to Know God More
“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Lord God,
I can never fully understand You, but I want to continue growing in knowledge. Please teach me more about Your Ways, and reveal truths through Your Word. Let each day be a chance to become more mature and strong in my faith.
I pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
7. A Simple Prayer of Worship
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker…” (Psalms 32:8).
Glorious Lord,
So many places in Scripture declare Your goodness and glory. And I know that all I am and all I have is because of You. I am amazed by Your grace for me. So I’m stopping everything else right now to express my heart to You. I lift up my praise, thanks, and most of all, deep love to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kieferpix
8. A Simple Prayer for Other Christians
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).
Father in Heaven,
Thank you for my Christian family, both within my local church and throughout the world. You call us to lift each other up, and so I ask that You fill my brothers and sisters with the grace they need to live rightly in such a sinful world. And I pray that I might be an encouragement and support to them.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.
9. A Simple Prayer for Greater Faith in God
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Lord,
Those who live in the world put their hope in things and people. But I am so glad that I have the Creator to rely on. Let me depend on You more each day, as I learn and experience more of Your goodness and faithfulness. Father, You are worthy of all my trust and devotion.
I pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
When I first started to have prayer time, it was hard to believe that I could come to God just as I was. But as I made my first, unsteady steps toward Him, I found a Heavenly Father who accepted me and invited me close. He looked beyond what I said to see the attitude of my heart. He’ll do that for every one of us.
“God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant, direct access to God. God loves mankind so much, and in a very special sense His children, that He has made Himself available to you at all times.” (Wesley L. Duewel)
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Katarzyna Bialasiewicz
