How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say

Sometimes we want to pray but the words will not come. Maybe life is heavy, maybe we feel far from God, or maybe we were never taught how. The good news is that prayer is not about perfect words. It is talking honestly with a Father who already knows your heart.

Start honestly

You can begin with something as simple as: "God, I don't know what to say, but I want to talk to You." The Psalms are full of honest prayers: questions, tears, thanks and praise. God welcomes that honesty.

Use a simple pattern

If you need a starting point, try this four-part pattern:

• Praise: tell God one thing you love about who He is.

• Confess: admit where you have fallen short and receive His forgiveness.

• Thank: name a few things you are grateful for today.

• Ask: bring your needs and the needs of others to Him.

Pray the words Jesus taught

When His disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He gave them the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Praying it slowly, line by line, is a wonderful way to pray when your own words run out.

Pray the Bible back to God

Take a verse and turn it into a prayer. For example, Psalm 46:1 says:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

You might pray: "Lord, be my refuge and my strength today. Help me in this trouble."

Keep it short and keep it going

A two-minute prayer every day will shape your heart more than a long prayer once in a while. Set a time, pray briefly, and let it grow naturally.

Read and pray with Kimbo Bible

Kimbo Bible includes guided prayers for every moment, so you are never stuck for words. Kimbo Bible: Study & Pray is a free Bible app for iPhone and Android: read the NIV and other Bible translations, listen to audio, follow a daily plan, read devotionals and pray with guided prayers. It is available in 8 languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Kiswahili, Hindi and Chinese) and is coming very soon to the App Store, with Google Play to follow.