Learning to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Say

Holy Made
Sep 12
3 min read

Updated: Oct 9

I can still remember sitting in church as a teenager, listening to someone pray out loud. Their words flowed beautifully, almost like poetry, and I thought to myself, I could never pray like that. When I tried, my prayers felt clumsy and short. Sometimes I didn’t know what to say at all, so I stayed silent. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. Many people wonder how to start learning to pray, and whether their words are “good enough.”

The truth is, prayer isn’t about fancy words or polished speeches. It’s about connection with God. Let’s walk through what prayer really is, why it matters, and some simple ways you can begin.

Breaking the Myth That Prayer Has to Be Perfect

One of the biggest misconceptions about prayer is that it must sound eloquent to count. Many of us imagine that God listens more closely when the words are long, formal, or deeply theological. But Scripture shows us that isn’t true. Prayer is not about impressing God, it’s about being honest before Him.

In fact, Jesus warned against using empty, repetitive phrases just to sound spiritual: “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:7, NIV). God isn’t measuring the beauty of our sentences. He’s listening to our hearts.

Biblical Examples of Honest Prayers

If you open the Bible, you’ll find countless prayers that are raw, emotional, and unpolished. David pours out his guilt in Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love… Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1–2, NIV). It’s messy and vulnerable, yet deeply powerful.

Jesus Himself gave us a model of prayer that is simple and direct. In Matthew 6:9–13, He shared what we now call the Lord’s Prayer, beginning with the words, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (NIV). This prayer covers praise, daily needs, forgiveness, and guidance. It isn’t long, but it’s complete.

These examples remind us that God values honesty over perfection.

Different Types of Prayer

Prayer can take many forms, and exploring them can help you find what feels most natural for you.

Thanksgiving: Gratitude for what God has done and who He is.
Confession: Admitting mistakes and seeking forgiveness.
Asking (Supplication): Bringing needs, hopes, and desires before God.
Listening: Creating space to be quiet and open to what God might impress on your heart.

When you realize prayer has different dimensions, it becomes less about performance and more about relationship.

Simple Ways to Start

If you’re just beginning to learn how to pray, start small and practical:

Journaling: Write down your prayers like a letter to God. This helps organize your thoughts and makes prayer feel more tangible.

Prayer walks: Take a walk outside and talk to God as you go. Nature often makes it easier to reflect and speak freely.

Using Scripture: Pray through passages by turning them into your own words. For example, when you read Psalm 23, you might say, “Lord, thank You for being my shepherd today. Help me trust You to guide my steps.”

Each of these practices keeps prayer from feeling intimidating and reminds you that God welcomes you as you are.

Final Thoughts

If prayer has ever felt overwhelming or out of reach, remember this: it doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. God is more interested in your honesty than your eloquence. Start small, lean on Scripture, and allow prayer to grow into a rhythm that feels like a conversation with a trusted friend.

Next time you don’t know what to say, simply begin with what’s on your heart, even if it’s just, “God, I need You.” Over time, you’ll discover that prayer becomes less of a task and more of a lifeline.

If this encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend who struggles with prayer, or leave a comment about what helps you stay connected to God in your daily life.

Holy Made