Introduction
Welcome to the how to pray according to Jesus article! You are apparently looking for information on how to pray according to Jesus. Prayer is one of the cornerstones of Christianity and one of the most important things for a believer. Without prayer you cannot receive anything and God requires prayer from believers. If the prayer is according to God’s will, then there is a promise in the Bible that they will be answered. It still does not mean that all prayers would be automatically answered, but God answers what He wants to answer. Next I will tell you more about how to pray according to Jesus.
What Did Jesus Teach About Prayer?
First of all, Jesus taught that one should pray in the name of Jesus. It is simple. A born-again believer ends the prayer in the name of Jesus. It does not mean anything more than that. Believers are members of the body of Jesus figuratively, so also for that reason one can pray in the name of Jesus. ✚John 14:13–14
Jesus was asked how one should pray and Jesus gave the Lord’s Prayer as a model for that ✚Matt. 6:9–13. It does not mean that it would be the only prayer one can pray, but there is one prayer and a model of how to pray. It includes that one should pray according to the Father’s will. The Holy Spirit does give prayer topics that are according to the Father’s will and those prayers often receive an answer. If it comes directly from God then one always receives an answer.
Pray in Secret, Not to Show Others
Although one can also pray publicly and people do pray publicly, Jesus taught that one should pray in secret, and not for the reason that others would see that one prays. ✚Matthew 6:5–6. God repays the prayer that is prayed in secret. If the attitude of the heart is that one prays for the reason that others would see that one is righteous, then that is a wrong attitude of the heart.
Avoid Empty Repetition
God already sees in advance what is being prayed and knows what a person needs. So one should not pray the same thing repeatedly many times and thus irritate God. Paul prayed three times that the thorn in the flesh would leave, no more. As a general rule one can therefore consider that one prays for one thing at most three times. Often it may be that one does not remember that one has already prayed more times before and continues the prayer still. That is not dangerous, but repeating the same prayer is not according to God’s will.
Pray with Unwavering Faith
The Bible says that one who believes with doubt does not receive anything from God. So one must believe what one prays. So do not pray for things that you yourself do not believe will happen. It includes any topic. So if you do not believe that a stump leg will grow back, then do not pray for it at all. It is better not to pray for topics that one does not believe in. ✚James 1:6–7.
If you lack faith, then pray that you would receive faith. I myself have experienced that I receive the greatest faith from hearing God speak about some topic. If you hear that the Holy Spirit encourages you to pray for some matter and you are sure that God is speaking, then such a prayer is certain to pray.
Pray According to God’s Will
If some prayer is according to God’s will, then one can expect to receive an answer to it. ✚1 John 5:14–15. If you get a hold of what is God’s will in any topic, then it is good to pray for that, because God is working on that matter and He also fulfills His will. You can also pray for other topics that God has not yet thought of doing, but if it is according to God’s will, you can expect to receive an answer to it. So do not pray that you would get a red Ferrari, because that is not according to God’s will. Pray for things that are according to the model of the Bible, and you can receive an answer to them.
Pray in the Holy Spirit
Although God can also answer people who are not even in faith, a believer should pray in the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh or soulishly. Although one can receive an answer to a soulish prayer as well, as a general rule one should pray in the Holy Spirit. Then one knows that the prayer burden comes from God and one can expect to receive an answer to it.
Some believers wonder why an answer does not come and it is often due to exactly the reason that the prayer is either soulish or in the flesh. When the prayer happens in the Holy Spirit, then there is power in it. Then the Holy Spirit operates and one can expect to receive an answer to it.
For Whom and for What Things Should One Pray?
It is always according to God’s will to pray for salvation and for all those in authority ✚1 Tim. 2:1–2. One can also pray for the sick and for there to be peace in the world. One should also pray for enemies ✚Matt. 5:44, and also pray for all people ✚1 Tim. 2:1. Here are just a few examples and one can pray for many other things as well.
Why Is Prayer Important?
Prayer is communion with God and God has decided that He answers prayers that are according to His will. Prayer gives something that from a human perspective cannot be obtained, but it comes from God. Although God does things also without prayer, to prayers that are according to His will an answer comes.
Prayer brings peace and removes anxiety. ✚Phil. 4:6–7. If you give all your worries to God, then He has promised to take care of you, if you are a believer. Prayer gives peace and you know that you are in God’s hand when you pray. So you are in active faith. Prayer is important and if one ignores it, then all kinds of troubles may come into a believer’s life. So pray actively and if you cannot think of what to pray about, then pray that you would receive topics.
Prayer gives wisdom and guidance ✚James 1:5. I myself have many times prayed for wisdom and there have been things about which I understood almost nothing and after prayer I have received a lot of knowledge and competence about it. So pray from God for wisdom in things that you do not know or in which you need wisdom. God can give you supernatural wisdom and competence.
Prayer is a spiritual weapon in battle ✚Eph. 6:18, ✚2 Cor. 10:4. With prayer you can tear down strongholds. So you can achieve something that cannot be done humanly. If you experience pressure and the influence of the enemy’s power, then you can pray that it would end and it can end. You can pray for example for world peace and for the ending of wars and those can receive an answer if they are according to God’s will especially if there are more than one praying.
The More People Praying, the Better
Two are enough for a prayer of agreement. Two is therefore from many praying people the minimum number ✚Matt. 18:19–20. But in practice if one sends prayer requests to several people praying then one can more easily receive a prayer answer. God may answer only when more than one has prayed. If you send prayer requests, then among them there may be someone in the Holy Spirit who is especially a prayer person and they have often received prayer answers. So if they pray for the matter, then one can more readily expect to receive a prayer answer.
Without Prayer We Drift Away from God
If we do not pray as believers, then it may happen that we drift away from God. ✚James 4:2. Jesus also taught that one should pray so that one would not fall into temptation ✚Luke 22:40. So it is important to pray so that faith would be preserved and so that one could be strong in faith.
So aim to pray every day even a little. Pray that you would receive the battle armor every day ✚Eph. 6:11–17 and that you would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that you could carry that day’s cross. ✚Luke 9:23. Every day is a new grace. ✚Lam. 3:22–23
Summary
Jesus did not teach very much about prayer, but He Himself prayed without ceasing. He taught that one should pray the Lord’s Prayer and there is a model for prayer in it. Prayers receive answers if they are according to God’s will. It is important to pray so that faith would be preserved. It is important to pray without ceasing and in the Holy Spirit. If you do not know what to pray, then ask for prayer topics in prayer. Where two or three pray, there Jesus is in their midst. The more prayer requests, the greater the probability that prayers will be answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a prayer be ended? Jesus taught that one should pray in His name (✚John 14:13–14). A born-again believer ends the prayer simply “in the name of Jesus.” Believers are members of the body of Christ, so we have the right to pray in His name.
Does God answer every prayer? No, God does not automatically answer every prayer. God answers prayers that are according to His will (✚1 John 5:14–15). If the prayer is according to God’s will, you can expect an answer. That is why it is important to pray in the Holy Spirit, because then the prayer burden comes from God Himself.
How many times should one pray for the same thing? Jesus taught to avoid empty repetition (✚Matt. 6:7–8). Paul prayed three times that the angel of Satan would leave him (✚2 Cor. 12:8). As a general rule one can consider that one prays for the same thing at most three times. Continuous repeating of the same prayer is not according to God’s will.
What if I don’t know what to pray? If you do not know what to pray, ask God for prayer topics in prayer. The Holy Spirit gives prayer burdens that are according to the Father’s will, and such prayers often receive an answer.
Can one pray publicly or must one always pray in secret? One can pray both publicly and privately. Jesus however emphasized that one should not pray to show others (✚Matt. 6:5–6). What is decisive is the attitude of the heart — if one prays publicly to appear righteous, that is the wrong motive.
For what things should one pray? It is always according to God’s will to pray for salvation, for those in authority (✚1 Tim. 2:1–2), for the sick, for world peace and for enemies (✚Matt. 5:44). One can also pray for wisdom (✚James 1:5) and for daily spiritual strength and protection (✚Eph. 6:11–17).
Why do I not receive answers to my prayers? There are several common reasons: the prayer may not be according to God’s will, you pray with doubt and not in faith (✚James 1:6–7) or the prayer comes from the flesh and not from the Holy Spirit. When one prays in the Holy Spirit, there is power in the prayer and one can expect an answer to it.
Does it help if more people pray for the same thing? Yes. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst (✚Matt. 18:19–20). Two are enough for a prayer of agreement. The more people pray according to God’s will, the greater the probability that prayers will be answered.
How often should one pray? Aim to pray every day even a little. Pray daily for the battle armor (✚Eph. 6:11–17), for the fullness of the Holy Spirit and for strength to carry that day’s cross (✚Luke 9:23). Without regular prayer a believer may drift away from God (✚James 4:2).
Thank you for reading to the end!
Hi!
I am the founder and administrator of this website. I am a born-again Christian and have been in the faith for over 10 years. I write all the articles myself by hand, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact me through the site. I can also pray for you and send your prayer requests forward anonymously if you wish. Thank you for visiting the website!
