Charles Spurgeon said, “I never pray more than five minutes, but I never go more than five minutes without praying.” The Bible tells us to “pray continually” (I Thessalonians 5:17). There are all kinds of ways to pray. So often we think that we have to have our heads bowed and eyes closed, begin formally and end formally. That’s one way to pray, but not the only way.

Is it prayer when you utter a quick “Help me, Lord” before confronting a co-worker? Is it prayer when you cry out to God when a semi truck almost hits you on the highway? Is it prayer when you feel helpless and afraid, but remember that God is with you? Is it prayer when you are grateful to God? The answer to all of those questions is “Yes”.

What other examples do you have?

In the Bible itself, we also see many types of prayers. Some are long, some are short. Some are poetic, some are plain. Some are simple, some are complex. Some are happy, some are angry. There are all kinds of ways to pray. But we have been given some simple guidelines.

Pray in Jesus’ name. Jesus said, “the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 15:16). This doesn’t mean that you have to end each prayer, “InjesusnameIprayamen.” It is not a magic formula. When we do anything “in someone’s name”, it means doing it for them or with their authority. As Christians, this means that when we pray in Jesus’ name we are praying for the sorts of things that Jesus would pray for. It also means that we are able to approach God in prayer because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus gives us the right to be sons and daughters of God. And it is only through him that God hears any prayers.

Pray according to God’s will. Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). God has the power to do anything. Of course, we don’t always get what we want. This is a good thing. How many times have we prayed for foolish things? The Bible also tells us “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

The Bible tells us,

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will” (Romans 8:26-27).