10 Simple Ways To Pray When You Don't Know How

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Have you ever felt stuck wondering about the best ways to pray, especially when words just won’t come?

I sat on the bus yesterday morning, watching the familiar streets blur past the rain-streaked window. My heart felt heavy with a situation at work that I couldn’t quite name. I wanted to pray, but the words felt tangled in my chest.

Maybe you know this feeling too. That moment when you want to connect with Jesus but don’t know where to start.

Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated, sister. It doesn’t require perfect words or a specific posture. Learning to pray is more like learning to breathe with God than mastering a skill.

The beautiful truth is that Jesus himself taught us how to pray. In Matthew 6:9-13, He gave us the Lord’s Prayer, not as a rigid formula, but as a loving guide. When we’re learning how to pray for beginners, we can rest in knowing that God delights in our authentic hearts more than our eloquent words.

Today, I want to share ten fantastic ways to pray that have transformed my own prayer life. These aren’t just ideas you can find anywhere. They’re rooted in Scripture and real life, tested in the quiet moments between teaching lessons and the gentle rhythm of evening routines.

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Pray With Your Senses

Learning to pray doesn’t always mean closing your eyes and folding your hands. Sometimes, it means opening them wider.

When you’re struggling to find words, try praying with what you can see, hear, and feel. On my bus journeys, I’ve started thanking God for the morning light filtering through clouds, the sound of rain on the roof, or the warmth of my coffee cup.

This is actually how to pray according to Jesus, with awareness and gratitude. In Luke 17:15-16, Jesus noticed when one healed leper returned to give thanks. He sees our small moments of noticing too.

Try this: Name three things you can see right now and thank God for each one. Let your senses become a bridge to His presence.

Use Scripture As Your Starting Point

One of the most powerful examples of how to pray comes from praying God’s own words back to Him. When I don’t know what to say, I often open to the Psalms.

Yesterday, I found myself repeating Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul.” Just those four words, over and over, as I marked papers after school. It became my prayer without me even realising it.

How to pray according to the Bible often means letting Scripture shape our conversations with God. The Psalms are especially beautiful for this. They’re full of honest emotions and authentic cries of the heart.

Try this: Choose one verse that speaks to your current situation. Let it become your prayer throughout the day, even if you only whisper it whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.

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Pray Your To-Do List

This might sound unconventional, but learning how to pray for beginners sometimes means starting with what’s already on your mind.

Instead of seeing your mental to-do list as a distraction from prayer, bring it into prayer. As I plan my lessons or think about grocery shopping, I invite the Holy Spirit into these ordinary moments.

“Jesus, help me teach with patience today.” “Lord, guide my words in that difficult conversation.” “Holy Spirit, help me choose food that nourishes my body well.“

This is how to pray to Jesus everyday, not just in set-apart moments, but woven through the fabric of our real life.

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Prayer Method

When anxiety makes it hard to focus, this grounding technique becomes one of my favourite ways to pray to God.

Notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. As you notice each one, whisper a small thank you.

This creative way to pray helps centre your heart in God’s presence whilst calming your mind. It’s particularly helpful during overwhelming days when traditional prayer feels impossible.

“Prayer is relationship, not performance. It’s conversation, not recitation. When you don’t know what to say, remember that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words.”

Through Your Emotions

One of the most honest ways to pray is to simply tell God how you’re feeling. The Bible shows us that God can handle our big emotions. Just look at the raw honesty in the Psalms.

When I’m frustrated with a challenging class or feeling overwhelmed by marking, I’ve learned to say: “Jesus, I’m feeling frustrated right now. I don’t like how impatient I was today. Help me find Your peace.“

What to say when you pray doesn’t have to be polished. God already knows your heart anyway. Learning to pray means learning to be real with Him.

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Use Simple Breath Prayers

Sometimes the most powerful different ways to pray are the simplest ones. Breath prayers are short phrases you can repeat whilst breathing intentionally.

On the inhale: “Jesus, I need You.”

On the exhale: “Fill me with Your peace.”

Or try: Inhale: “Be still and know” Exhale: “That I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

These prayers work beautifully on the bus, during breaks between lessons, or whilst washing up. They’re gentle ways to stay connected to God throughout your day.

Pray With Your Hands

Learning how to pray in Christianity isn’t just about words. It’s about our whole being connecting with God.

Try different hand positions as you pray. Open palms facing up can represent surrender and receiving. Hands over your heart might help you focus on gratitude. Clasped hands can feel grounding during difficult prayers.

Sometimes I trace a cross on my palm whilst praying as a simple, physical reminder of Jesus’ love. These small gestures can deepen your prayer experience in beautiful ways.

Use the ACTS Method Creatively

ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) is a classic prayer structure, but you can make it fresh and personal.

For Adoration, try: “Jesus, I love how You…”

For Confession: “Lord, I’m sorry for the way I…”

For Thanksgiving: “Thank You, God, for…”

For Supplication: “Please help me with…”

This method gives structure whilst keeping prayer conversational and genuine. It’s particularly helpful when you’re learning to pray and need a gentle framework.

“Your prayer life doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It needs to be rooted in your real life, your real struggles, your real joys. That’s where you’ll find Jesus most clearly—in the midst of your ordinary, imperfect, beautifully human days.”

Pray Through Your Weekly Rhythms

Instead of forcing prayer into rigid time slots, try weaving it into your natural rhythms.

Monday morning bus rides might become your time to pray for the week ahead. Wednesday evening tea could be your moment for gratitude. Sunday evenings might be perfect for reflection and confession.

How to pray according to Jesus often meant praying in rhythm with life, such as early mornings, mealtimes, evening walks. Find your own gentle rhythms and let prayer flow naturally within them.

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Practice Listening Prayer

Some of the most powerful examples of how to pray involve more listening than talking. After sharing your heart with God, try sitting quietly and simply being present with Him.

This isn’t about hearing audible voices. It’s about creating space for the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. Sometimes it’s a gentle impression, a Bible verse that comes to mind, or simply a sense of peace.

I often end my prayers with: “Jesus, what do You want me to know today?” Then I sit quietly, usually whilst sipping my morning tea, and pay attention to what bubbles up in my heart.

Finding Your Prayer Voice

The most important thing about learning how to pray is remembering that God delights in your authentic heart. He’s not grading your prayers or comparing them to anyone else’s.

Prayer is relationship, not performance. It’s conversation, not recitation. When you don’t know what to say, remember that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).

Start small. Choose one of these approaches and try it for a week. Notice how it feels. Does it help you connect with God more naturally? Does it bring peace to your busy heart?

Remember, dear sister, you’re not behind in prayer. You’re exactly where God needs you to be. Every small step towards Him matters. Every whispered “Jesus, help me” is a beautiful prayer.

Your prayer life doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It needs to be rooted in your real life, your real struggles, your real joys. That’s where you’ll find Jesus most clearly, in the midst of your ordinary, imperfect, beautifully human days.

A Gentle Invitation

What resonates most with your heart from these ten ways to pray? Which one feels like the most natural next step for you in this season?

I’d love to hear which of these creative ways to pray speaks to your heart. Sometimes sharing our small steps helps other women find courage for their own journey.

Remember: God isn’t waiting for you to get prayer “right.” He’s simply waiting for you, just as you are, with all your beautiful imperfections and genuine heart.

Your prayer life is a gift to cultivate gently, one small step at a time. And that’s more than enough for our loving Father who sees every whispered word and every silent cry of your heart.

With love,