How to better pray

[StrugglingWithLife]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord. I struggle with daily prayer because I think that I need to do something to appease God, or I need to pray with a certain format.

 

[PropheticTimes]

Just spill your heart to Him like you would to a best friend. That's all He asks for, your heart's truth.
End it "In jesus' name".
That's it.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

because I think that I need to do something to appease God

why do you need to appease God?

 

[1stcenturylady]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord. I struggle with daily prayer because I think that I need to do something to appease God, or I need to pray with a certain format.

Develop a relationship with Him. Try praising Him. Throughout the day, anytime you see something that is good, thank Him for it. Like the rain, or the sunshine, or something He created. God inhabits the praises of His people."

 

[StrugglingWithLife]

Because I feel like I need to obey only him...doesn't always seem very natural. At least God acknowledges our free will, even if we don't feel like obeying him.

 

[Lukaris]

At the start of my day I give thanks for another day of life & ask for forgiveness of my sins.Then that I may pray for the salvation & well being of my neighbor by the Lord's commands & by His will. Next I pray the golden rule ( Matthew 7:12 ), the 2 great commands ( Matthew 22:36-40 ), the lord of the harvest ( Matthew 9:36-38 ) & finish with the Lord's Prayer ( Matthew 6:9-13 ).

 

[Humble me Lord]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord

I don't think there is a specific way at all. Like other posts, it's about the relationship with God that counts. There are no rules, It's a relationship, better than any we have with any other human.

 

[Sketcher]

When Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer, it was a template for our prayers. We are to pray in faith without fear, and meditating (in the Christian sense, not in the Eastern religion sense) on each line that he gave us as we come to God in prayer helps us to do just that. For instance:

"Our Father in Heaven, holy is your name"

God is our Father, whose name is holy. We can therefore trust him. Setting your mind on who God is, and his love for us, and his power to provide, and his righteous character will help set your mind for the rest of your prayer.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."

God's kingdom is a kingdom of peace and justice. His commands are in part, meant to promote these things, therefore peace and justice are his will. Remembering this before presenting our requests to him can reassure us, and open us to being part of the solution to either what we are praying about, or what someone else is praying about.

And so forth. Matthew 6:5-15 as well verses 25-34 of that same chapter are essential here, also Luke 11:1-13.

 

[Waggles]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord. I struggle with daily prayer because I think that I need to do something to appease God, or I need to pray with a certain format.

This is exactly why Christians need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the Bible evidence of speaking [praying] in a new tongue.
A God given spiritual language whereby we put aside our own thoughts and allow the indwelling Spirit to directly communicate with
God our Father through Jesus our Lord.
One can pray for 10 minutes or for 30 minutes or for an hour (or more).
Fasting and prayer brings about miraculous results.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:21

 

[chriscomplex]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord. I struggle with daily prayer because I think that I need to do something to appease God, or I need to pray with a certain format.

Yes, you mean formulaic.

I forget the praying my friend and actually do something about myself or other peoples situations.

 

[without.you]

I feel like I don't pray well enough or with the right wording as well. Glad to see I am not the only one.

 

[Greg J.]

I know there is a specific way/wording to prayer to the Lord. I struggle with daily prayer because I think that I need to do something to appease God, or I need to pray with a certain format.

There is a lot of help available about prayer. Just to touch on a few things:

One old pattern of prayer ("ACTS") is to do the following in order:
A - Adoration: worship and praise the Lord. Consider his character qualities—what he is like. Dwell upon his holiness, purity, greatness. There's a lot of Psalms that praise the Lord. Consider his many names in Scripture (God our healer, provider, our holiness, our righteousness, and a well over a hundred more).
C - Contrition: Confess your sins to God with the intention to not do them anymore.
T - Thanksgiving: Thank the Lord for what he has done for you. Everything that is not eternal punishment is by the undeserved grace of God.
S - Supplication: Seek the Lord for what you need and want. It is also a good time to prayerfully consider what you really do need and want. Some of our desires are very deep, but most are not.

One of the first things I did as a Christian was read E.M. Bounds' Power Through Prayer. Unfortunately I don't remember it at all, but since it is still considered a classic, it's almost certainly not a bad book to read. Google classic books on prayer, or better yet, ask your pastor for a recommendation. I can recommend anything by Oswald Chambers.

Lastly, read the Lord's prayer as a list of topics. I'm sure you can consider each verse and think of things that could use some prayer. From Matthew 6:9-13, 1984 NIV:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, —what does it mean that God is our Father—in heaven?
hallowed be your name, —This is a request that God would help people to treat his name as holy. Glorifying, honoring, obeying God, and so forth automatically grants us long-term blessing. We are also blessed if other people do those things.
your kingdom come, —What is his kingdom? What does it mean to desire it to come? What happens if it does?
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. —There are limitless specific examples that can be turned in requests. How is God's will done in heaven?
Give us today our daily bread. —This is not just a request for food. What does it mean? Ask him for what you need. (See John 14:14, 16:23-24, et al.)
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. —A verse often only partially examined. Once you are forgiven, you don't need to keep asking for forgiveness for the same sins. But if you sin, then seek his forgiveness. Rather importantly, it reminds us we must forgive others. Seek the Lord to help you to forgive others, since our forgiveness by him depends on it (see Matthew 6:14-15).
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ —This is actually rather important—to seek God regularly for. Seek the Lord to prevent you from running into temptations that are difficult for you (especially those that are too difficult for you). Seek strength to resist Satan. Seek protection and deliverance from Satan (his big tool is deception) as well as his power, plans, and schemes. Seek the Lord's help to recall Bible verses (like Jesus used Bible verses in his desert temptations). This is also a good time to remember that your own sinning hinders your prayers (1 Peter 3:7) in addition to giving Satan an opportunity (Ephesians 4:17).