When You Don’t Know How to Pray

Sometimes we sit down to pray and the words just don’t come. Our minds wander. We feel distant. We wonder if we are doing it “right.” But in the middle of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us something beautiful: a guide for prayer. Not a script to mindlessly recite, but a framework to help us draw near when we feel far.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5–15) reminds us that prayer is relationship.

Jesus begins by warning us how not to pray: not to impress others, not to impress God with cleverness, not to pray as if He doesn’t already know. Because He does. He knows what’s on our hearts before we even speak. But He delights when we come to Him. When we bring our needs, our thanks, our longings - He listens.

“Our Father in heaven...”

The first words remind us who we are speaking to. Not a distant ruler, not a cold judge - but a Father. The Creator of the universe has invited us into His family. That’s not something we earn. That’s something we receive through Jesus.

And while earthly fathers sometimes fail, our heavenly Father does not. He is strong, steady, compassionate. He comforts. He guides. He is near.

“Hallowed be Your name.”

His name is holy - set apart. Too often we rush into our needs and skip over this awe. But prayer is worship. It’s a moment to pause and remember who He is. Would we speak casually if we stood before a king? How much more reverence should we have when we speak to God?

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done...”

This is where it gets hard. Can we really pray “Your will be done” and mean it? Even if it takes us out of comfort? Even if it brings pain?

Jesus prayed this in Gethsemane. He didn’t want the suffering - but He trusted the Father. That’s the heart of this line: trusting God’s goodness more than our own understanding.

“Give us this day our daily bread...”

Just like the Israelites gathered manna each morning, we are invited to depend on God - daily. We don’t have to stockpile strength for tomorrow. He is enough for today. That includes the physical and the spiritual. The Bible isn’t cake for special occasions - it’s daily bread for our souls.

“Forgive us... as we forgive others.”

This one humbles us. We can’t come before God pretending we are always in the right. We fail. We sin. And yet - He forgives fully and freely through Christ.

That same grace we receive, we are called to extend. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it’s essential. We forgive because we’ve been forgiven.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Temptation doesn’t vanish just because we follow Jesus. It still sneaks in quietly, hiding behind stress, distraction, or pride. Even church leaders fall. No one is immune. But we are not alone in the fight. God equips us. He guards us. That’s why we pray for guidance, for protection, for spiritual strength. We are in a battle - but we don’t fight alone. God fights for us. And the victory is already won.

Each line of this prayer draws us deeper - not just into words, but into relationship with the One who hears. When we don’t know how to pray, we can turn to this pattern. Not to recite it mindlessly - but to remember what prayer really is: worship, surrender, dependence, forgiveness, protection, and trust.

Even the simplest prayer - “Thank You,” or “Help me” - can move the heart of God.