Key Practice: Pray Regularly

Prayer is our direct line to God.

Yet for many Christians, the first response to a situation is not to pray. We try to handle things on our own, and when that doesn’t work, we turn to “panic prayers.” But when prayer comes first, before the reaction, peace follows. King David himself prayed, “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1).

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). Peter adds, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Prayer is not just about asking God for things.

It’s about spending time with Him. Scripture says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Walking with someone is intimate. You begin to know their rhythm, their tone, their heart. That’s what God desires: that we would walk with Him closely, not just call on Him when life feels heavy.

Even Jesus often withdrew to be alone with the Father: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16) Though He and the Father are one, He still took time to commune with Him. Likewise, Enoch walked so faithfully with God that he did not experience death: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24).

As you walk with God, practice thanksgiving.

Thank Him for the breath in your lungs, for your family, loved ones, home, and above all, for salvation through Christ. “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me” (Psalm 66:20). “Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:16–17).

We must also pray for forgiveness.

Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When we humble ourselves before God and confess, He removes our guilt and restores our relationship with Him. As we receive His forgiveness, we must then extend it to others: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

King David wrote, “Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:2–5). Forgiveness brings freedom and peace to the heart.

We can also pray for guidance, knowing that God is faithful to lead us. Joseph’s life is a picture of that: betrayed, enslaved, imprisoned, yet still able to say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (Genesis 50:20). David also echoed that same trust: “But I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:14–15).

In Matthew 6:9–13, when Jesus gave His followers a model for prayer, it was rooted in relationship, not ritual:

“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 evil.”

Jesus here teaches us that prayer is not about reciting words or demanding results; it’s about surrendering our hearts to God. He already knows our struggles, yet He invites us to bring them before Him. Prayer is where we find strength, perspective, and peace.

Before His death, Jesus prayed one of the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture, not just for His disciples, but also for us:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:20–26)

Even as He faced the cross, Jesus prayed with love, unity, and purpose. His prayer reveals God’s heart for godly intimacy and relationship with us.

Without prayer, we start making assumptions about who God is and how He feels about us. But as we spend time with Him, not only do we get to know Him better, but we begin to reflect His heart. Just as close friends begin to share mannerisms and ways of thinking, we begin to think, love, and live more like Christ the more we pray and walk with Him daily.

The ACTS Model of Prayer

If you struggle with how to pray, try using the ACTS model as a simple and balanced guide:

• A – Adoration: Praise God for who He is: His power, mercy, and faithfulness.

• C – Confession: Humbly confess your sins and ask for forgiveness.

• T – Thanksgiving: Express gratitude for His blessings and grace.

• S – Supplication: Bring your requests to God, praying for your needs and for others.

This pattern helps keep prayer personal and balanced, not mechanical, guiding your heart toward deeper relationship with God, in love and humility.

Timothy Keller once said, "Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things he has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life.”

Reflection Questions

1. When faced with challenges, is prayer your first response or your last resort?

2. How does your prayer life reflect your relationship with God?

3. Which part of the ACTS model comes most naturally to you? Which is most difficult?

4. How might your peace or perspective change if you prayed before reacting?

5. What would it look like to set aside time each day to walk more closely with God through prayer?

6. How might practicing gratitude in prayer change your daily perspective?

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References:

Biblica, Inc. (2011). The Holy Bible, New International Version. Zondervan. (Original work published 1973)

The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

Keller, T. (2014). Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. Dutton.