20MIN READ
Prayer When You Don’t Know What To Say
An interactive, guided reading experience, shaped from the booklet.
Share This Article
Share With Us
Overview
Prayer isn’t meant to be a hard thing to do, it’s meant to be our communication pathway to Jesus.
Use this article to learn more about praying or coming up with a prayer, but in God’s eyes, He just loves when we talk with Him.
opening reassurance
Close your eyes, stay still and silent, meditate on what talking to God might look like.
Quote
“Pray together. Pray alone. Just pray!”
Prayer When You Don’t Know What To Say
Explore prayer, your relationship with God, how He answers, when and what to pray, the Lord’s Prayer, habits, and real-life prayers.
Prayer and relationship
It was never intended for us to go it alone. God created us to be in relationships, so God placed us in families and among friends. God has connected us to each other. We need to love and be loved.
Spending time with God is the ultimate relationship. Prayer is simply communicating with God, both talking and listening to him. Through his son Jesus Christ, we are free to come to God to share our deepest and most private joys, p
BIBLE VERSE
Prayer is simply communicating with God, both talking and listening to him.
Genesis 2:18
The privilege of prayer
Each one of us is extended a personal invitation into the very presence of the Creator of all things, the all-powerful God who knows and is with us every step of our lives.
False ideas about prayer misrepresent the Lord terribly. The truth is God does care, and God didn’t mean for prayer to be pulled out as a last resort, or as a means for us to bargain with him.
KEY MOMENT
It is an honour and privilege to spend time sharing everything with God.
What is prayer?
God always hears and always answers the prayers of those who pray to him in faith. But he doesn’t always say, ‘Yes’ to the things we ask. Sometimes God may say, ‘No.’ And still at other times he says, ‘Not now.’
God holds our future in his hands. It’s difficult to see at the time, but God only has the best in mind for us when he answers our prayers.
BIBLE VERSE
Prayer is not an occasional conversation we have with God.
Matthew 28:20
God answers all prayers
God always hears and always answers the prayers of those who pray to him in faith. But he doesn’t always say, ‘Yes’ to the things we ask. Sometimes God may say, ‘No.’ And still at other times he says, ‘Not now.’
God holds our future in his hands. It’s difficult to see at the time, but God only has the best in mind for us when he answers our prayers.
BIBLE VERSE
God always hears and always answers the prayers of those who pray to him in faith.
Jeremiah 29:11
When should we pray?
God is constantly watching over us and has even numbered the hairs on our heads. He is eager for our communication—asking him when we need something, thanking him for his good gifts, praising him for all he does.
Paul wrote, ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
BIBLE VERSE
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
What should we pray about?
This answer is simple … everything! Not only are we to pray in times of tragedy and sorrow, but also when life is good, praising God for the blessings we receive each and every day.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
KEY MOMENT
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
What words should I use?
These prayers began as memorised words. As we grew, however, our prayers became more than just repeated words and the ritual our loved ones taught us as kids.
When Jesus’ disciples came and asked him to teach them to pray, he taught them a prayer known today as the Lord’s Prayer. It is comprised of an introduction, seven petitions or requests, and a conclusion.
KEY MOMENT
The Lord’s Prayer helps us organise our thoughts and priorities.
The Lord’s Prayer as a model
Our Father in heaven: through Jesus Christ, God has forgiven our sins and made us his children. He commands us to pray, and he promises to hear us for Jesus’ sake.
The Lord’s Prayer gives us a model to frame the needs and requests that lay heavy on our hearts and minds. Prayer does not teach God anything new about us; it teaches us about God’s love.
KEY MOMENT
Prayer doesn’t teach God anything new about us; it teaches us about God’s love.
When your loss makes you feel lost
Consider using your daily commute to think about those you want to remember in prayer. If you associate a person, place or event with each sign, it can help you remember to begin your prayer.
Don’t be afraid to pray with other people. Just be yourself and talk to God. Pray together. Pray alone. Just pray!
KEY MOMENT
Pray together. Pray alone. Just pray!
I don’t know what to say
Each one of us is extended a personal invitation into the very presence of the Creator of all things, the all-powerful God who knows and is with us every step of our lives.
False ideas about prayer misrepresent the Lord terribly. The truth is God does care, and God didn’t mean for prayer to be pulled out as a last resort, or as a means for us to bargain with him.
BIBLE VERSE
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
Romans 8:26–27
End with prayer, hope and practical pathways
The booklet closes with a full prayer, encouragement to take heart with Jesus Christ, and practical support contacts. This section keeps that ending intact but gives it the dignity of a slower, more focused response moment.
Take a moment for prayer
If you feel comfortable and when you are ready, reveal and read the prayer written specifically for those who are reading this article.
Sometimes, God,
I don’t have the right words.
My thoughts feel tangled, my heart feels heavy, and even praying can seem hard.
But You already know me completely.
You know the things I can’t explain, the worries I can’t untangle, and the ache behind my silence.
So here I am.
Imperfect.
Teach me that prayer doesn’t have to sound impressive to be real.
Remind me that even a whisper, a sigh, or a quiet “help me” is heard by You.
When I feel distant, draw near to me.
When I feel uncertain, give me peace.
When I don’t know what to pray, let Your Spirit carry the words I cannot find.
Thank You that I never have to perform for Your love.
Thank You that through Jesus, I can come to You exactly as I am.
Help me trust that You are listening — even in the silence.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST
Would you like us to pray for you?
We believe God is at work in all things, draws near in challenging circumstances, and loves each and every person fully and unconditionally.
If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, we encourage you to send us a prayer request. Our team would be happy to keep your situation in our prayers.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Support Services
Professional help is always available
Across Australia and New Zealand, God richly blesses us with counsellors, psychologists and medical professionals who are able to offer help, support and hope throughout life’s challenges.
If you have found the themes or topics contained within this episode challenging or confronting, we encourage you to reach out to one of the following professional support organisations.
Support Services
ABOUT MESSAGES OF HOPE
Messages of Hope is a podcast and radio based media ministry of Lutheran Media.
If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, we encourage you to send us a prayer request. Our team would be happy to keep your situation in our prayers.
Lutheran Media is a registered charity that exists to use digital, social and creative media to share the joyous Good News of Jesus, and the unconditional love God has for each and every person.
Our supporters provide 100% of the funding that allows us to share hope into the lives of others.