Can I be real with you for a second?
I used to be terrible at prayer. Like genuinely bad.
I'd hear people talk about their "quiet time" and how they felt God's presence and received all this clarity. Meanwhile I was sitting there distracted, checking how much time had passed, wondering if I was doing the whole thing wrong.
If that's you, stay with me.
Because I figured something out. We're overcomplicating this.
Prayer Is Just Talking
Somewhere along the way we turned prayer into this formal religious performance. The right posture. The right words. The right spiritual vibe.
Forget all that.
Prayer is conversation. That's literally all it is. Talking to God like He's there. Because He is.
You know how you talk to your best friend? Where you don't filter yourself or try to sound impressive? Where you just say what you're actually thinking?
That's how God wants you to talk to Him.
He's not grading your vocabulary. He doesn't need you to sound religious. He's not impressed by fancy language or theological words.
He wants you. The real you. The confused, messy, hopeful, struggling, actual you.
Start Stupid Small
The worst prayer advice is "pray more." It's like telling someone who doesn't exercise to "just work out more." Technically true, completely unhelpful.
Here's what actually works. Start with one sentence.
Tomorrow morning, before you look at your phone, say one true thing to God.
"I'm nervous about today."
"Thank you for my bed."
"I have no idea what to say right now."
That last one counts by the way. "God, I don't know what to say" is a real prayer. It's honest. It's present. It's reaching toward something beyond yourself.
One sentence. That's your starting point.
Try Praying Out Loud
This changed everything for me.
When I started praying out loud, even just whispering, my prayers got way more focused. It's harder to zone out when you're actually speaking.
There's something about voicing your prayers that makes them real. It's the difference between thinking about texting someone and actually sending the text.
Try it tonight. When you're alone, just start talking to God out loud. Tell Him what's on your mind. Ask Him for something specific. Thank Him for one thing.
It'll feel awkward for maybe thirty seconds. Then it'll feel like the most natural thing ever.
When Words Won't Come
Sometimes life is too heavy for sentences. You're overwhelmed or confused or just empty.
Good news. The Bible says the Spirit helps us when we don't know how to pray. He intercedes for us with "groanings too deep for words."
That means your wordless sighs count. Your tears count. Just sitting in silence, orienting your heart toward God, that counts.
You don't have to have it together to pray. You just have to show up.
Let Scripture Guide You
When I really don't know what to say, I read a psalm out loud and let it become my prayer.
The Psalms are basically ancient prayers. They cover everything. Joy. Despair. Anger. Gratitude. Fear. Worship.
Find one that matches how you're feeling and read it to God. Let the words of people who struggled thousands of years ago give voice to your own heart.
That's not cheating. That's wisdom.
The Bottom Line
Prayer doesn't require a special place or special words or a special spiritual feeling.
It requires willingness. That's it.
Willing to be honest. Willing to be present. Willing to believe Someone is actually listening.
Start there. Start today. Start with one sentence. You might be surprised what opens up.
Not sure how to start? ThyWord guides you through it. Just open the app, speak what's on your heart, and let us help you find the right words. Visit thywordapp.com to join the waitlist.
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