Four Steps to Prayer
Praying can be done out loud or in your mind. You can speak to God like you would any other person. Your words do not have to be complicated or memorized. It is more important to open your heart and not hold back. Believe He is there and listening, because He is. Believe He will help you, because He will. Prayer is one the most valuable gifts you have received from your loving Father in Heaven.
1) Begin Your Prayer
Before you begin, find a quiet place where you feel comfortable. A good way to start is to address God by name. You could try “Dear God,” “Dear Heavenly Father,” “Our Father which art in heaven,” or simply “God.”
2) Have a Conversation with God
Express appreciation to God for all the blessings in your life. Even challenges can be a blessing. Gratitude helps us become humble, which keeps our hearts and minds more open to God’s answers.
Speak from your heart and share your hopes and desires as well as your worries and problems. You can ask God for help, direction, forgiveness, or healing. Whatever is on your mind, bring it to Him. Recognize His wisdom and timing is greater than yours. You can ask Him what He wants for you.
Share your feeling with God about others. You can pray for their needs, or ask for ways you can love and help them.
3) End Your Prayer
Once you’ve said all that you wanted to say, you can end your prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” We do this because Jesus commanded us to pray in His name.
“Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;
“And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” —The Book of Mormon - 3 Nephi 18:19–20
4) Act on Your Righteous Desires
There is wisdom in the saying, “Pray as if everything depends on the Lord, then work as if everything depends on you.” It is in the process of doing that we often get guidance and help from God.
