Now, sometimes I do know what to pray for but I usually am not comfortable praying out loud(I am working on it though.) I asked a friend of mine if praying out loud was the ONLY way to pray. He told me no, prayer is a conversation with God and He doesn't want you to feel uncomfortable talking to Him. This is true. Prayer is a conversation with God. It may feel one-sided at times, but He is listening and He is working. I figured I am not the only one who feels this way on occasion. So I will give you some tips on prayer and a couple ways to pray if you either aren't comfortable praying out loud or are looking for a new way to pray.
1. Don't be afraid to talk to God.
God is always around and He is always listening. I always thought prayer had to be super formal, using a specific formula, saying just the right words. However, this isn't the case. Prayers are seriously just a conversation with God. When you are talking to your friend or significant other do you talk like you're writing a letter? "Dear ______, Hi, how are you? Sincerely, ________." No, that would be silly. It's the same when talking to God. Just talk to Him. There are times when I am in my car, I'll be praying for something, and then I will get distracted and forget that I am praying or just stop without finishing my prayer for a ridiculously long time. I think this is commonly referred to as Prayer ADHD and I know for a fact I am NOT the only person who suffers from it. God is patient. He will listen even if you get distracted. He is here for you.
2. ACTS Prayer Method
A few years ago, while I was at a summer camp, our guest counselor introduced us to a prayer method called ACTS. Each letter stands for a different thing to pray for. The A is for Adoration. Start by telling God that He is awesome (because He is). Tell Him why are adore Him. C is for Confession. Romans 3:23 says ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone has sinned, admit that YOU have sinned and ask God for forgiveness. No one is perfect and that is okay. The T stands for Thanksgiving. Thank God for everything He has done for you, everything He has given you. He is an awesome God and He gives us so much that we don't deserve. Finally, S is for Supplication. The definition of supplication is asking for something earnestly or humbly. Ask God for what you need, present your requests to Him. This is a great way to outline your prayers when you don't know where to start.
3. Go For a Prayer Walk
I just recently learned what a prayer walk was; I had never heard of it before. It is exactly what it sounds like; you go for a walk and you pray. I learned about this method through the Youtube channel Prayers & Penguins. She has many videos that help Christians be better Christians. She also has some videos on prayer. I highly encourage you to check her out! She explains a prayer walk as going on a walk and praying for the community, but she also mentions other things you can pray for on your prayer walk. (I will link that video at the bottom of this post.) Prayer walks can be great because you're getting outdoors and enjoying the fresh air while also having a conversation with your Heavenly Father.
4. Make a Prayer Journal
This is by far my favorite way to pray. If you have read my first blog post or the "about" section of this blog, you know I like to write. A prayer journal doesn't have to be some fancy journal with inserts and decorations, it can literally be a fifty-cent notebook from the dollar store. I have always found it easier to write down my feelings and thoughts rather than saying them. There are many different ways to use a journal to pray. You can just write your prayers as a train of thought, bullet points, or as a letter. You can also divide your journal into different sections, each being a different area of your life you want to pray for. Often times, I see prayer journals on Pinterest that have a section for prayer, a section for bible study, a section for gratitude, etc. Your prayer journal can be whatever you want it to be, whatever you feel is comfortable and will be something you will use daily!
5. Don't forget: it's just a conversation!
These are just suggestions and ideas to help your prayer life. You are welcome to use any of them or all of them. There are also times when we aren't in a good place to pray, at an event or around people for example. Or someone tells you they need prayer and you say, "I'll pray for you" but then you forget to do that later (guilty). I was told once to just go ahead and say a little prayer. God knows what is on your heart and what you're thinking. Sometimes I just say a quick prayer in my head because I know God can hear me even when I don't speak.
This week I encourage you to do at least one of these methods. Start a journal, go for a prayer walk. Please also check out Prayers & Penguins on Youtube! She has a variety of videos ranging from how to's to bible stories using cute animals. Have a blessed week!! I will be praying for you!
This week in creation corner: I tried my hand at Puppy Photography for my grandma! They were adorable! I also am going to be uploading a new Youtube video this week!
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