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How to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Pray

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What stops you from talking to God regularly?

Becoming comfortable with prayer takes practice. And yet—if we want to grow in our faith, it’s important that we’re able to have honest conversations with our relational God.

So, if you’re not sure what to pray about…

Here are 5 examples of daily prayers:

  1. Pray for God to be Known

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations…”

EPHESIANS 3:20-21

Example:

God, we know that You are above all things and that by You all things are held together. Today, please be glorified in our world. Would people who have never met You, find You. Amen.

  1. Pray for the World

“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

EPHESIANS 6:18

Example:

God, please set the world right. Do what’s best for Your kingdom, and fill Your people with mercy, strength, and bright ideas so that we can spiritually contribute to our world. Amen.

  1. Pray for What You Need

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

Example:

God, You know what I need before I do. So please give me what I need today so that I can focus on You, and not on my problems. And, when it comes to tomorrow’s needs, I trust that You will provide. Amen.

  1. Pray for Forgiveness

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

MARK 11:25

Example:

God, You alone know our intentions. Please forgive the people who have wronged me because I have forgiven them. And Lord, forgive me because I’ve also messed up. Please don’t hold our mistakes against us. Amen.

  1. Pray for Healing and Protection

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

JAMES 5:14

Example:

God, there is so much suffering in our world. Please heal the sick and restore peace and life to our weary souls. Protect our bodies and our minds, and give us Your strength to endure temptation and trials. Amen.

These ideas aren’t new—Jesus used them to teach His disciples how to pray 2,000 years ago:

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those
who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

MATTHEW 6:9-13

To help you create a regular prayer rhythm, try creating a Prayer List inside your Bible App. Every day, pick a few things from that list to focus on. (You can also invite friends into your conversations with God by sharing your Prayers with them.)

As time goes by, you’ll be able to look back at that list and reflect on what God was doing in your life during that time.

Pray Now

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What’s bringing you hope?

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If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.  1 Peter 3:15

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Everyone loves good news.

You know that buzz you get when something sparks hope in you? Or fills your heart with peace? Or really encourages you? People tell us all the time about great insights they find in Bible Plans. And about how often the Verse of the Day seems to line up exactly with something happening in their lives.

Every time you experience one of those a-ha! moments, share it.

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You can share all kinds of things from the Bible App: Bible verses, Verse Images, Plans, Prayers, Badges, devotional content from Plan days. (You can even share the Bible App.) And it’s easy! Anywhere you see one of these Share icons, just tap it… and give someone else that same great feeling.

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Feeling Lonely? 4 Ways to Grow Your Friend Group—Even from Home

A dear friend will love
you no matter what.

Proverbs 17:17

Even before COVID-19, more than one in five adults in the U.S. said they felt lonely or isolated.1 Research shows that chronic loneliness even has negative effects on our physical health.2 We all need meaningful connections with people we care about, who care about us. How do we do that?

Start by Being a Friend

Do you want friends who will encourage you? Then become an encourager. Want friends who will help you grow as a person? Then practice listening, and show that you’re willing to change when you learn new things. Whatever you want to see in others, work towards becoming that friend yourself.

  1. Start Praying for Others.

    2. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

    1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Ask someone you know, “How can I pray for you?” Write down what they tell you, then pray for them regularly. Our Prayer feature makes it easy to keep track of everything you’re praying for. Not sure what to pray? Try Verse of the Day Stories. Every day has a Prayer you can pray for yourself—and for friends. When you pray regularly for other people, your empathy and concern for them grows.

  1. Start Having Honest Conversations.

    2. Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

    Proverbs 13:20

    Relationships are built on trust. Trust goes in both directions. Don’t just talk about yourself. Ask a lot of questions, actively listen, and don’t judge. Not sure what to talk about? Do a Bible Plan together, and schedule a regular time to video chat about what God is showing each of you. (Verse of the Day is great for this, too.) The more you invest in each other, the more you’ll enjoy your times together.

  1. Start Serving Others, Together.

    2. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

    Hebrews 10:24

    Serving other people helps you beat loneliness, by taking your focus off yourself and giving you a sense of purpose. Millions of people have lost jobs during the pandemic.3 (If you’re one of them, we’re so sorry.) In most communities, food banks and other charities are busier than ever. Find services with social distancing and sanitizing policies that you’re comfortable with. Or, if you’d rather not leave your house, look for places where you can serve online.

  1. Start Inviting People.

    2. Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.

    Romans 12:10

    Look for Suggested Friends in your Bible App Home feed. You can also tap the Friends icon (Friends icon) at the top of your app, or go to More, Friends and add people from your contacts. Also, be sure you check your Friend Requests in the app. However you choose to add friends, we recommend that you ask only people you actually know, so you’ll be able to have honest exchanges with people you trust.

Whatever You Do…
Just Start.

A Prayer for the Lonely

Father, please meet me where I am. Lord, send people who will reach out to me, and give me ideas of people I can reach out to. Give me courage and strength, and please rescue me from my loneliness.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalms 34:18

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Notes

1 Loneliness and Social Isolation: An International Survey.

2 Loneliness Rivals Obesity, Smoking as Health Risk.

3 Jobless Claims Hit 4.4 Million.

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Does Life Feel out of Control? Remember These 3 Things:

BE STRONG AND LET YOUR HEART TAKE COURAGE, ALL YOU WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD!

Psalm 31:24

400 years. That’s how long the Israelites waited for God to deliver them from slavery. But after they left Egypt, God didn’t take them directly to their promised land.

Instead, they camped out at the base of a mountain while God instructed Moses. During that time, God’s glory rested on the mountain.

But after 40 days, the Israelites grew frustrated by the delay…so they rejected God and pursued whatever pleased them.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by an uncertain season that lasts longer than you anticipated, you’re not alone.

Waiting can lead to disappointment and frustration. In those moments, we can become so focused on our circumstances that we forget God is still in control. If God’s in control, we might ask, then where is He? Why hasn’t anything changed?

Here are three truths to remember:

  1. Waiting reveals what you worship

    When the Israelites’ plans were delayed, they pursued instant gratification because that’s what they actually valued.

    When you find yourself dissatisfied with your situation, what do you turn to? What you focus on reveals what you value, and what you value determines what you worship.

  1. Waiting is never wasted

    God wasn’t withholding His promise from the Israelites—He was preparing them for it.

    God’s timeline is different than ours, but your waiting might actually be preparing you for the plans and purposes God has for you.

  1. Waiting helps us focus on God’s faithfulness

    God’s faithfulness hasn’t changed. The God who patiently protected and provided for the Israelites also conquered death so that you could experience eternal life.

    If you find yourself growing weary from waiting, look up and look back. Look for evidence of God’s presence, and look back on what He’s done for you. This will help you hold onto hope.

Hoping in God is never wasted because the One who conquered death is still in control, and He’s always at work in your waiting.

Reflect on God’s Faithfulness

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A Prayer for Anyone Battling Addiction

“IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE.
BUT TAKE HEART!
I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”

John 16:33

Father God, thank You that nothing we struggle with is impossible for You to overcome. You are above all things, and in You, all things are held together.

This season is hard for all of us, but especially for our brothers and sisters battling addiction. Help them realize that their struggles do not define their identity or worth.

They are Your children, called by Your name, and set apart for Your purposes. Show them that their chains have been broken.

Help them to resist temptation so that they can embrace Your fullness of life. Give them Your strength to fight back when they feel overwhelmed, and place people in their lives who will support them.

Protect their bodies, hearts, and minds. Shield them from temptation, and deliver them from evil.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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