Getting Started with Prayer: Simple Steps for Daily Connection with God

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My heart aches as I pray for one of my adult daughters, who’s struggling with the consequences of her choices. After we adopted her at twelve, we raised her in faith, but she drifted away once she turned eighteen, wanting to forge her own path. She’s facing many struggles, yet she still resists change. It’s heartbreaking.

In such a painful season, how do I pray? Where can I even begin? You might picture me in quiet reflection with my Bible or finding solace in nature’s beauty. But my prayers aren’t happening in those peaceful scenes. Instead, I’m finding ways to pray in the everyday moments, like standing at the kitchen sink surrounded by dishes.

The days had been a whirlwind—homeschooling co-op, appointments, youth group. My kids had neglected their chores the previous night, leaving food caked on the plates. Yet, as I scrubbed away at the stubborn mess, I didn’t feel the annoyance I expected. Instead, worship music filled the air, and my heart was lifted by prayer. I sang along softly, asking God to be with my daughter. I prayed for her heart to soften and to surrender fully to Christ. Not for my reputation, but so she could find freedom from the chains that bind her.

Too often, when we think of prayer, we believe we have to do something special or different to be heard. But the truth is, prayer can be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, as natural as breathing.

 Examples of Prayer in the Bible

The Bible paints a beautiful picture of prayer for us. It’s not just some religious ritual but a vibrant, living, breathing connection with our heavenly Father.

Daniel’s Prayer: Think about Daniel, thrown into a den of fierce lions, yet he still found peace to pray three times a day. His consistent prayers had cultivated such deep trust in God that even the threat of death couldn’t shake him. (Daniel 6).

Hannah’s Prayer: Then there’s Hannah, her heart aching with the longing for a child in 1 Samuel 1. Her prayers weren’t tidy or polite, but a raw, emotional pouring out of her soul before the Lord. It shows us that God can handle our messy, real, and sometimes loud cries to Him.

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus prayed before His arrest, showing us that prayer is a source of strength in times of great distress. And in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus found strength in prayer in His darkest hour. His example teaches us that in those moments we feel like we might shatter into a million pieces, prayer holds us together (Matthew 26:36-46).

The Lord’s Prayer: Jesus gave us, reminds us to come to God with reverence, to confess our sins, and to boldly ask for our needs. It’s a reminder that prayer isn’t about getting everything we want but aligning our hearts with His perfect will. When asked how to pray, Jesus provided a model in what we know as the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), emphasizing the importance of reverence, confession, and petition.

These examples show us that we shouldn’t put prayer in a box. Let’s not think it has to look a certain way or happen at a particular time. We can pray in the mundane and the miraculous, in the quiet moments and the loud chaos. Because in prayer, we find our unshakeable peace, our unwavering hope, our unending connection to the heart of God.

Simple Tips to Make Prayer Part of Your Daily Life

1. Start Small: Begin with just a few minutes a day. You don’t need to dedicate hours; even a moment of sincere prayer can be powerful.

2. Incorporate Prayer into Routine Tasks: Like I did at the kitchen sink, you can pray while doing everyday activities. Whether driving, exercising, or doing chores, these moments can become opportunities to connect with God.

3. Use Scripture: Praying through Scripture is a powerful way to align your heart with God’s will. You can start with a Psalm, read a few verses, and then respond in prayer.

4. Keep a Prayer Journal: Writing down your prayers can help you stay focused and provide a way to look back and see how God has answered.

5. Pray with Others: Sometimes, praying with a friend or family member can be encouraging and uplifting. It reminds us that we are part of a larger community of faith.

6. Be Honest and Open: God already knows your heart, so don’t feel you need to hide anything. Whether joyful, angry, scared, or confused, bring it all to God in prayer.

7. Make it a Habit: Consistency is key. Try to set aside time each day to turn your thoughts toward God, even if it’s just a few moments.

Prayer is not about the perfect words or the perfect setting. It’s about a heart that longs to connect with the Creator, seek His guidance, and find comfort in His presence. No matter where or what you’re doing, you can turn your heart toward God in prayer. And in doing so, you’ll find He is always ready to listen, comfort, and guide you on your journey.

Bonus Resources

Before You Meet Your Future Husband and Praying for Your Future Husband

Do know a young woman praying for her future marriage? Pass this on!

Praying for Your Future Marriage

As a young woman, you may find your heart filled with dreams of meeting your future husband one day. In the midst of those dreams, prayer becomes a powerful tool in preparing your heart and your very life for the marriage God has in store for you.

Praying for Your Heart

Ask God to nurture within you a heart ready for healthy, Christ-centered love. Pray for patience in waiting, for joy in the present season, and for protection from relationships that wouldn’t honor Him. As you pray, envision your heart as fertile soil, ready for the seeds of true love to bloom when the time is right.

Praying with Your Head

Pray for your thoughts to align with biblical truth about love, relationships, and marriage. Ask God to help you see through the unrealistic expectations set by movies, novels, and social media. Instead, pray for a mind renewed by Scripture, understanding what a God-honoring relationship looks like.

Praying with Your Hands

Pray for opportunities to grow and use your gifts and talents to their fullest. As you prepare for marriage, ask God how He wants you to use this season to become the best version of yourself. Whether through serving others, pursuing education or career goals, or deepening your faith, pray for eyes to see the potential He has placed within you.

A Prayer for Your Future:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As I dream of meeting my future husband, I pray that You would prepare me for the marriage You have in store. Nurture my heart with patience and joy. Align my thoughts with Your truth about love and relationships. Help me make the most of the gifts and talents You’ve given me. I trust in Your perfect timing and plan for my life.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Through prayer, you can lay a firm foundation for a future marriage that honors God and brings life to you and your future husband. By focusing on your heart, head, and hands, you’ll step into any relationship from a place of peace, strength, and readiness for all God has in store.

Order Before You Meet Your Future Husband HERE and Praying for Your Future Husband HERE!

Journal Through the Bible in 2024

Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.

God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.

Purchase a copy of Praying Through the Bible in One Year HERE.