Do you ever find yourself, in your prayer time, wondering what to say? If that’s you, I’ve been there, too. I get it.

I’ve read or heard some incredibly beautiful prayers over the years, and sometimes, instead of appreciating them and agreeing with them, I’ve let them intimidate me. I’ve listened to the wrong voice, telling me I don’t have the right words, so I must not be good at praying. That’s a lie!

God wants to hear from us! He’s a Father and he loves it when we talk to him. If you need some help getting started, let me encourage you to remember that eloquent words are not a requirement. Neither is “churchy” language. Just speak to God, plain and simple.

Something else that can help you in your prayer life is to use the scriptures as inspiration. Below are a couple of examples,

A simple but bold prayer that asks for blessing on your life (adapted from the prayer of Jabez in 1Chronicles 4:10)

God, I ask for your blessing on me. Please bring me more opportunities to succeed and greater responsibilities in my life. I’ll need your help and your guidance with these- so I’m asking for it right now. I don’t want to be harmed and I don’t want pain, so please protect me. –Amen

This prayer can be adapted, further, as you intercede on behalf of anyone whom God has placed on your heart.

Here’s an adaptation of The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-14,

Father in heaven, I want to know more of you and understand, more deeply, how great you are. Bring healing to this world as you carry out your plan for what’s best, making earth like heaven. We ask you to provide what we need for today. Please forgive us for the ways we have sinned against you and others, and please help us to forgive those who have hurt us. Protect us, Father, so that we are not tempted to sin anymore. Keep us safe from ourselves. –Amen

Why don’t you try adapting a prayer on your own? Try putting this prayer of thanksgiving, from Hannah, in 1 Samuel 2:1-2 (ESV) in to your own words,

“My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, but I rejoice in your salvation.”

How did it go? I had to find out what, exactly, Hannah meant in that first sentence. I typed into Google search, what does it mean when Hannah says my horn is exalted in the Lord, and here’s what I found (Biblehub.com) from Elliot’s Commentary for English readers,

“The image “horn” is taken from oxen and those animals whose strength lies in their horns. It is a favorite Hebrew symbol, and one that had become familiar to them from their long experience—dating from far-back patriarchal times—as a shepherd-people.”

Does that help? It might also help to find out the fuller context of the story. Hint…Hannah was unable to have a child, in a society where barren women were looked down on. She prayed and asked God for a child and he gave her Samuel. Her prayer is thanking God for this baby. She could, in a modern phrase, hold her head high, (she no longer felt shame), because of what God did for her. If you follow Jesus, then you, too, can hold your head high, no matter what your circumstances are. The message of the gospel means that we no longer need to feel shame because of what Jesus has done for us.

I love using scriptures when I pray. Putting prayers from the scriptures into my own words helps me to gain a deeper understanding behind the meaning. If you’re finding yourself at a loss for words in your prayer time, try praying some scriptures!

Remember, prayer is simply talking to God. I believe that talking to God is like talking to a friend. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will become and the more natural the conversation will feel.

I also find value in writing down my prayers on occasion and I encourage you to do the same. Looking back on those prayers at a later date will an encouragement to you because you will see answered prayers. I’ve made a worksheet, below, for this purpose. You may find it helpful- or you may prefer using a simple notebook.

Today's PDF is available HERE

Can we pray for each other? If you feel comfortable sharing, leave your prayer requests in the comments so that we can pray for you.

INSPIRE: Prayer