How do I pray?
Prayer is not magical, but it is one of the primary ways of communicating with God. Think of it like a two-way radio between HQ and soldiers on the front line. The ability to connect is critical. Prayer is surely not the only way, but is definitely one of the most recognizable outpourings of the heart.
My yoke is easy.
Sadly, people can often become lost in the mechanics of prayer. At Pray Louisville, we get our cues from Jesus. He said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” so let’s make it easy.
Getting started
There are many different ways people pray and there is certainly not any specific requirement, other than humility. But the fact that we are praying usually means humility is in the equation, unless it is being done for others to see/hear.
God says to pray with all kinds of prayer and petitions. He makes the offer quite broad. Throw in the fact that every person is unique along with the truth that God loves you and created your uniqueness, there is no way we can tell you how you should express your heart to God. That said, we don’t want you to be stuck at the trailhead. So we will provide some basic tips and ideas to help you pray. From there, God will show you the way.
Here are some tips/pointers to help you pray:
Time: Prayer doesn’t have a time limit. “God help me. I need your help” is a very common prayer in our household.
You can pray for 10 seconds, 10 minutes, or an hour. Just start talking and let it flow.
Location: There is no location requirements. You don’t have to be in a specific building or room. You can be in your car, in the bathroom, or in a boardroom. The bible tells stories of people praying in life threatening conversations while at work. The key is to just pray.
Voice: There are no requirement on volume. You can pray in your head, you can pray out loud, you can cry, you can be angry, you can swear, you can be silent. God knows your heart. The reality is that your true, unfiltered prayers, will be heard. Just let your heart be free.
Mechanics: You don’t have to close your eyes or fold your hands or be on your knees. You don’t have to speak in a different language. You don’t have to be like someone else. You be you. He made you and wants to hear from you. Share your heart. Those other things will naturally flow, but it’s all about just starting.
3 simple ideas
Here are three simple ideas to help you pray:
- Pray scripture – Read a passage of the bible and follow the OIA method. Then ask God to help you with the Application of what you just read, or for the promise you read. Ask Him to make that promise be realized in your life, your family
- Pray for the problem that is currently on your heart – often God will put people, problems on our hearts
- Pray in growing circles
- Start with your own heart, your journey, your life
- Then your family, friends
- Then your neighborhood, city, and state
How do I read the Bible?
Our world will often overcomplicate things and is overwhelming to people when they are starting out.
For example, there are over 50 different version of the English bible! The beautiful thing is that, while there are colorful differences in these version, the ultimate picture is the same. For example: here are over 40 different version of the same verse. Notice the message is the same, but the words are slightly different.
People can often become lost in the details. At Pray Louisville, we get our cues from Jesus. He said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” so let’s make it easy.
So as to not overcomplicate, we simply agree with Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Pick a version up and start reading. To at least point you to some easier versions, start with ones abbreviated as NIV (New International Version) or NKJV (New King James Version), but don’t get hung up on this step.
Start anywhere, just open it. The bible is actually 66 books written over 2,000 years. Again, start simple. In the bible there are books that were written by people who actually walked with Jesus. Read one of those. A great one is John.
Lastly, how to read the bible. As you will quickly realize, the bible is not a normal book. Though it’s not magical - it is different. You will read it and feel your heart react. You will have questions that seem to come out of thin air. These are important promptings. Again, start simple.
O.I.A. method
At Pray Louisville, we use what is called the O.I.A. method. Observation, Interpretation, Application. Just ask yourself 3 questions as you read it. (Again, this is the easy method so don’t overcomplicate it.)
Observation: What does the text actually say? (Just read it)
Interpretation: What does what I just read mean? (Think comprehension)
Application: What does what I just read mean for me? (How I can apply for to my life)
Ask God to lead you through the process. He will.
There are many aspects to prayer.
One basic aspect is us asking God to make this place, our city, look like heaven. It is also us declaring to Him that we forgive people that have hurt us and asking Him to forgive us the same way we have forgiven them.
There is a lot of hurt in this city. We need help. Our leaders need help. The first step to healing is admitting the problem.