You want to pray. You know you should pray. You’ve been thinking about praying.
But you haven’t actually prayed in years. And now the thought of starting again feels… overwhelming.
You don’t know what to say. You don’t know how to start. You’re not even sure God is listening anymore.
And all the advice you’ve heard about prayer feels impossible:
- “Pray without ceasing”
- “Spend an hour in prayer every morning”
- “Follow this prayer guide”
- “Use these exact words”
It all feels like too much. Too formal. Too complicated. Too intimidating.
So you don’t pray at all. Because if you can’t do it “right,” why bother?
Here’s what I want you to know: You’re overthinking this.
Prayer isn’t as complicated as we’ve made it. And you don’t need to follow anyone else’s formula or timeline or structure.
You just need to talk to God. That’s it. That’s prayer.
Let me show you how.
First: Let Go of What You Think Prayer “Should” Be
Before we talk about how to pray, let’s talk about what prayer is NOT:
Prayer is NOT:
- A performance you need to get right
- Something that requires fancy language or King James English
- A formula you have to follow exactly
- An hour-long event that happens at 5 AM
- Something you need to “feel” for it to count
- A way to convince God to do what you want
- Reserved for people who have their lives together
Prayer IS:
- Talking to God
- Being honest with Him about what’s going on
- Listening for His voice
- Connecting with Him throughout your day
- Bringing Him your needs, your fears, your gratitude, your questions
- Relationship, not religion
That’s it. If you’re talking to God, you’re praying. Even if it doesn’t sound spiritual. Even if it’s messy. Even if you don’t use the “right” words.
Start Smaller Than You Think You Should
If you haven’t prayed in years, don’t try to start with an hour-long prayer time. You’ll burn out before you even begin.
I’m serious. Just 60 seconds. One minute of your day.
Set a timer if you need to. And for that one minute, just talk to God.
“God, I don’t really know what I’m doing here. But I’m trying. I need You. Help me get through today.”
That’s a prayer. That counts. That’s enough.
And tomorrow, do it again. 60 seconds. That’s all.
You don’t have to pray for an hour to be faithful. You just have to show up.
What to Actually Say
Here’s the part that trips people up the most: What do I actually say when I pray?
The answer: Whatever is true.
Prayer isn’t about using the right words. It’s about being honest with God about what’s going on in your life and in your heart.
If You’re Struggling:
“God, I’m struggling right now. I don’t know how to handle this. I need Your help.”
If You’re Grateful:
“God, thank You for this. I don’t deserve it, but I’m grateful.”
If You’re Angry:
“God, I’m angry about this. I don’t understand why this happened. I need answers.”
If You’re Exhausted:
“God, I’m so tired. I can’t keep doing this on my own. I need Your strength.”
If You’re Confused:
“God, I don’t know what to do. Show me. Give me wisdom.”
If You’re Afraid:
“God, I’m scared. Help me trust You even when I’m afraid.”
If You Don’t Know What to Say:
“God, I don’t even know what to say right now. But I’m here. I’m showing up. Meet me here.”
Notice: None of those prayers are long. None of them use fancy language. None of them follow a formula.
They’re just honest.
And honest prayers are the prayers God hears most clearly.
When to Pray
You don’t have to wait for the “right time” to pray. You can pray anytime, anywhere.
Morning: Before you even get out of bed. “God, I need You today.”
Driving: In the car on your way to work. “God, help me get through this meeting.”
Waiting: In line at the store, waiting for your coffee. “Thank You for this moment to breathe.”
Stressed: When you feel overwhelmed at work. “God, I can’t do this alone. I need Your help.”
Before meals: A quick thank you. “God, thank You for this food.”
With your kids: Before bed. “God, protect them tonight.”
At night: Before you fall asleep. “God, thank You for getting me through today. Help me rest.”
You don’t need a special time or place. You just need to talk to God whenever you think about Him.
Prayer isn’t an event. It’s a conversation that happens throughout your day.
What If You Don’t Feel Anything?
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: Most of the time, prayer doesn’t feel like anything.
You’re not going to feel a lightning bolt. You’re not going to hear an audible voice. You’re probably not going to feel warm fuzzies or have a mountaintop experience.
Most prayer is just… talking to God and trusting He’s listening, even when you don’t feel His presence.
And that’s okay.
Prayer isn’t about feelings. It’s about faithfulness.
You show up. You talk to God. You trust He’s listening. Whether you feel it or not.
The effectiveness of your prayer doesn’t depend on how spiritual you feel while you’re praying.
What If You’re Not Sure God Is Listening?
Maybe you’ve prayed before and it felt like your prayers hit the ceiling and bounced back. Maybe you prayed for something that didn’t happen. Maybe you’re not even sure God cares.
I get it. And I’m not going to dismiss that.
But here’s what I want you to consider: What if God is listening, but His answer looks different than you expected?
Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says wait. And sometimes He’s working in ways you can’t see yet.
But He’s always listening.
The Bible is clear: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)
God hears you. Even when you can’t feel it. Even when the answer isn’t what you hoped.
So keep praying. Keep talking to Him. Keep showing up.
Because prayer isn’t about getting what you want. It’s about staying connected to the One who loves you.
Practical Ways to Start Praying Again
Okay, so you’re convinced you need to pray. But you still don’t know where to start. Here are some practical ideas:
1. The One-Sentence Morning Prayer
Before you even get out of bed, pray one sentence: “God, I need You today.”
That’s it. Do that every morning for a week. Just one sentence.
2. The Traffic Prayer
Every time you’re in the car, pray. Thank God for something. Ask Him to help you with something. Just talk to Him while you drive.
3. The Gratitude Prayer
At the end of each day, list three things you’re grateful for. Out loud. To God.
“God, thank You for [1], [2], and [3].”
4. The Honest Prayer Journal
If talking out loud feels weird, write your prayers. Open a notebook and just write to God like you’re texting a friend.
No fancy language. No structure. Just honest thoughts.
5. The Scripture Prayer
Pick a verse and pray it back to God.
Example: Psalm 23:1 says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Pray: “God, You’re my shepherd. Help me trust that I don’t need to worry because You’re taking care of me.”
6. The Help Prayer
Every time you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or stuck, pray one word: “Help.”
God knows what you need. You don’t have to explain it. Just ask for help.
7. The Breath Prayer
Pick a short phrase and pray it throughout the day. Every time you take a deep breath, pray it.
Examples:
- “God, I need You.”
- “Jesus, help me.”
- “Thank You, God.”
- “I trust You.”
8. Pray the Lord’s Prayer
If you don’t know what to pray, pray what Jesus taught us to pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
You can pray it word-for-word. Or you can use it as a framework and pray through each section in your own words.
What About Long Prayers?
You might be thinking: Okay, but shouldn’t I be praying for longer than 60 seconds? Shouldn’t I have a “real” prayer time?
Eventually, yes. As you get more comfortable praying, you’ll naturally start praying longer.
But right now? Start small.
Because the goal isn’t to pray for a certain amount of time. The goal is to reconnect with God. And that happens in short, honest prayers just as much as it happens in long ones.
God isn’t measuring the length of your prayers. He’s listening to your heart.
So start with 60 seconds. And if that becomes 2 minutes, great. If it becomes 5 minutes, even better. If it stays at 60 seconds for a while, that’s fine too.
You’re not trying to impress God. You’re just trying to talk to Him.
What If You Fall Out of the Habit Again?
Here’s the reality: You’re going to have days where you forget to pray. Days where you’re too busy or too tired or too distracted.
And that’s okay.
Missing a day of prayer doesn’t mean you failed. It doesn’t mean you have to start over from scratch. It doesn’t mean God is disappointed in you.
It just means you’re human.
So when you miss a day, just start again the next day.
No guilt. No shame. No beating yourself up.
Just: “God, I didn’t talk to You yesterday. But I’m here now.”
And that’s enough.
Prayer Isn’t About Perfection
Here’s what I really want you to hear: God doesn’t care if your prayers are perfect. He cares that you’re talking to Him.
He doesn’t care if you use fancy words or pray for the “right” amount of time or follow the “right” structure.
He just wants to hear from you.
So stop overthinking it. Stop waiting until you have the perfect words or the perfect time or the perfect mindset.
Just start talking to God.
Tell Him what’s on your mind. Tell Him what you’re struggling with. Tell Him what you’re grateful for. Tell Him you don’t know what to say.
He’s listening. He’s been waiting to hear from you.
An Invitation
So here’s what I want you to do right now:
Pray.
Don’t wait until you finish reading this. Don’t wait until tomorrow morning. Don’t wait until you feel ready.
Just stop. Right now. And pray.
It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be eloquent. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Just talk to God.
“God, I haven’t talked to You in a long time. I’m not sure what to say. But I’m here. I want to reconnect with You. Help me.”
That’s it. That’s a prayer. That’s enough.
And tomorrow, do it again. And the day after that. And the day after that.
You don’t have to pray perfectly. You just have to pray.
God is listening. And He’s been waiting to hear from you.
What’s the biggest thing keeping you from praying? What feels most intimidating about it? Drop a comment—I’d love to help you get started.
