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A Simple Guide to Prayer

Four simple steps for growing closer to God through prayer. Come as you are — make room for reverence, honesty, forgiveness, and faith. Prayer is not a performance; it is a relationship.

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Before you begin

God wants to hear from you. Your Heavenly Father knows who you are. However, He wants to hear your voice, and what you have to say.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Step 1

Authentic

Be you. God already knows who you are, but He wants to hear your voice and what you have to say. Prayer starts with showing up as your real self.

“Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”
— Joel 2:13 (NLT)

You do not have to find perfect words. Begin honestly, and let your prayer be a true conversation with God.

Step 2

Honor

Honor must be rooted in respect and high regard. Who would dare be in the presence of a king and not give recognition of his majesty? When we come before God, we remember who He is and hold Him in the highest regard.

“They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose so that they will worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.”
— Jeremiah 32:38-40 (NLT)

The word 'fear' means revere — to very much respect and admire someone or something.

Step 3

Forgive

We must forgive to be free ourselves. When you read verses 14–15, don't quit — pause, take deep breaths if need be, because verse 15 tells you the value of your own transformation. Forgiveness is part of the freedom God is working in you.

“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
— Matthew 6:9-15 (NLT)

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Step 4

Faith

In simple terms, you must be convinced that the God you are praying to is real, that He hears you, and that He will respond. Prayer is communication: talking and listening!

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
— Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

“Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, 'The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.' If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
As the Scriptures tell us, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.' Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'
But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, 'Lord, who has believed our message?' So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
— Romans 10:8-17 (NLT)

You're on your way, and almost there.

A resource to keep close

Take the guide with you

Keep these four steps close as you grow in prayer.

Download the Prayer Guide (PDF)