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Prayer is a universal practice, deeply rooted in cultures and religions across the globe. But what does it truly mean to pray?

This month I’m going to do a focus on prayer. I’ll be looking at what Christian prayer is, different ways to pray, and examples of prayer in the Bible. 

But before we dive in, let me ask you: do you ever pray? Maybe you find yourself praying when you’re scared or in trouble. Or perhaps you’re a practicing Christian, and prayer is a regular part of your day.

Or maybe the only time you’ve ever prayed was during a school assembly or at a wedding or funeral.

It’s something that’s been in our lives one way or another. 

Now, let’s think a little bit about what prayer actually is. 

What is prayer?

If you Google “definition of prayer”, the following result comes up:

“a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.” 

I think this definition is just the tip of the iceberg.

One thing that prayer definitely is not is a list of demands. I’ve known many people, some that would call themselves Christian, that seem to approach prayer as a list of requests from God. 

I would also argue that prayer is not a religious ritual. It may be something that’s often done in religious settings but I believe that true prayer comes from the heart. 

In a nutshell, prayer is an intimate conversation with God. It’s a central part of the relationship that we can have with Him. 

Viewing prayer through this lens helps us understand how to approach it. Each of us are at a different stage of relationship with God, and so this means that we might not all approach praying at the same level – something that will be explored in my next post on how to approach praying.

Now that we’ve considered what prayer is, let’s explore some of the benefits of prayer…

Why should I pray?

Mental health benefits

Something that’s always struck me is how much the secular world takes bits of praying and recommends it to help with mental health. 

Gratitude journals are a prime example of this. It is good for us to be grateful, to recognise the good in our life, this is an integral part of prayer too. But who are we being grateful to in gratitude journals? 

Prayer also provides opportunities to be still and reflective. We live in such a fast-paced world filled with distractions and noise. It is good for our souls, and mental health, to be still and reflect. 

I love that prayer gives us a direction for our inner most thoughts, and gives us someone to be thankful to.

Having a friend to take your troubles to

Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control and there’s nothing we can do about it. Sometimes people hurt you and you don’t know what to say or do to make things better. 

To know that I can relinquish the control I try to have over my life to God, and trust that He wants to do good in a difficult situation brings me so much peace, and hope. 

This was particularly prevalent when Mum was unwell. So often it felt like everything was whirring out of control and I was scared during such uncertainty. Prayer, and my relationship with God, were an anchor during these times. 

On the flip side of the coin, sometimes there are things that I think or feel that I struggle to admit to other people. But I’m able to take these things to God through prayer. I’m able to seek forgiveness for these things and pray for help against them. 

The wonderful thing about God is that for how mighty and holy He is, He is also a friend who wants us to bring both the big and small things to Him through intimate conversation in prayer.

Relationship with your Creator

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, let’s just say for arguments sake that there is a God, that you were created by a higher power that is bigger and better than anything you could ever imagine in this world. 

Now, imagine that awesome, mighty Creator wants to have a relationship with you. That He loves and cares for you, and wants to hear about your life – this can be done through prayer, what a gift!

For those that know God and follow Him, prayer is the avenue for you to get to know God even more. But more than that, if you love someone, you spend time with them. Prayer and reading the Bible are ways to spend time with God. 

If you had a relationship with a friend, and they barely spoke to you and only ever asked you for things when they did speak to you – you wouldn’t feel very loved by that friend would you? Well it’s exactly the same for your relationship with God. 

What can I pray for? 

One of my favourite Bible verses is Philippians 4:6: 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

In this verse it states that we can pray in every situation – how beautiful is that?! There’s nothing that we bring to God that He dismisses because He thinks it’s too small. 

There have been so many times that I’ve lost something and am searching around my living room looking for it, and just before I really start to get irate, I pray and ask God to help me find it. Within a couple of minutes it’s found – it’s astounding. 

This may seem like a silly example, but it’s times like that that I’m reminded that God really does hear my prayers, and He cares about all things. He is my heavenly Father that takes joy in me bringing these things to Him. 

But there are some other important bits to recognise in Philippians 4:6. We bring our petitions to God with thanksgiving. As I said earlier, a prayer is not a list of demands. 

Before we come to God with requests, it’s important to remember who He is in the situation, which helps us not to be anxious, and to recognise all the good He has already given you with thanksgiving. 

Praying through Jesus

Do you know why we can come to God whenever we want with the big and the small? Well, the clue is in the subheading – because of Jesus. 

Before Jesus, people had to follow specific rituals and sacrifices to connect with God. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now speak directly to God anytime, anywhere.

This is really important to remember when praying, and Jesus gave some direction on this too in John 16:23-24: 

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

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As we’ve explored, prayer is more than just a ritual or a list of requests—it’s a profound, intimate conversation with God. Whether you’re seeking comfort in difficult times, expressing gratitude, or simply desiring to connect with your Creator, prayer offers a way to bring your deepest thoughts and emotions to someone who truly cares.

I encourage you to reflect on your own experiences with prayer. Whether you’re new to it or have been praying for years, there’s always an opportunity to grow deeper in your relationship with God. 

Take time this week to be still, to listen, and to speak to God from your heart. Perhaps consider setting aside a few minutes each day to pray or reflect. What do you want to share with God today? You might be surprised at the peace, guidance, and joy that can come from this simple yet powerful practice.

And as we continue this series on prayer, I hope you’ll join me in exploring new ways to connect with God through prayer, learning together how prayer can be a vibrant part of our daily lives.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12