What is the proper way to pray?

Response

Is it better to pray standing up, sitting down, kneeling, or bowing down? Should our hands be open, closed, or lifted up to God? Do our eyes need to be closed when we pray? Is it preferable to pray in a church building or out in nature? Should we pray in the morning when we wake up or at night before we sleep? Are there specific words we should use in our prayers? How do we start our prayers? What is the correct way to end a prayer? These inquiries, among others, are frequently posed about prayer. What is the appropriate way to pray? Do any of these aspects hold significance?

Often, prayer is mistakenly seen as a “magic formula.” Some believe that if we do not articulate the exact words or pray in the correct posture, God will not listen or respond to our prayer. This notion is entirely unscriptural. God does not answer our prayers based on the timing, location, physical position, or wording of our prayers. In 1 John 5:14-15, we are instructed to approach God in prayer with confidence, knowing that He hears us and will fulfill our requests as long as they align with His will. Similarly, John 14:13-14 states, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” According to these and numerous other Scriptures, God responds to prayer requests that are made in accordance with His will and in Jesus’ name (for the glory of Jesus).

So, what is the right way to pray? Philippians 4:6-7 advises us to pray without anxiety, to pray about everything, and to pray with gratitude. God will answer such prayers by granting us His peace in our hearts. The proper way to pray is to express our concerns, desires, and thankfulness to God, knowing that He hears us and responds according to His perfect will.

Hearts to God, being honest and open with God, as He already knows us better than we know ourselves. We are to present our requests to God, keeping in mind that God knows what is best and will not grant a request that is not His will for us. We are to express our love, gratitude, and worship to God in prayer without worrying about having just the right words to say. God is more interested in the content of our hearts than the eloquence of our words.

The closest the Bible comes to providing a “pattern” for prayer is the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Please understand that the Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer we are to memorize and recite to God. It is an example of the things that should go into a prayer—worship, trust in God, requests, confession, and submission. We are to pray for the things the Lord’s Prayer talks about, using our own words and “customizing” it to our own journey with God. The proper way to pray is to express our hearts to God. Sitting, standing, or kneeling; hands open or closed; eyes opened or closed; in a church, at home, or outside; in the morning or at night—these are all side issues, subject to personal preference, conviction, and appropriateness. God’s desire is for prayer to be a real and personal connection between Himself and us.