Week 9: Talking to God — How Do I Pray?

1 Opening

Welcome to a New Season

Over the last eight weeks, you've explored who Jesus is, what He did, and what it looks like to follow Him. You've discovered your identity in Christ, met the Holy Spirit, found your place in community, and begun the daily rhythm of obedience.

Now we go deeper. Not harder — deeper. The next four weeks tackle the things every growing believer eventually faces: prayer, suffering, spiritual opposition, and the call to share what you've found.

Our Next Four Weeks

Week 9: Talking to God — How do I pray?
Week 10: When It Gets Hard — How do I handle suffering and doubt?
Week 11: The Battle Within — What is spiritual warfare?
Week 12: Sent Out — How do I share my faith?

This Week's Question

How do I talk to God — and does He actually hear me?

If you're honest, prayer might feel awkward. Maybe you don't know what to say. Maybe you feel like you're talking to the ceiling. Maybe you've tried and it felt empty.

You're not alone. Even the disciples — men who walked with Jesus every day — had to ask, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). If they needed help, so do we.

2 Scripture

KJV NET

⁵“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward! ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ⁷When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles because they think that by their many words they will be heard. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹So pray this way: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, ¹⁰may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread, ¹²and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ¹⁴“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

¹Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” ²So he said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation.’” ⁵Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷Then he will reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ⁹“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! ⁵Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! ⁶Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. ⁹And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

¹For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me. ²He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended. ³How long will you threaten a man like me? All of you are murderers, as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence. ⁴They spend all their time planning how to bring their victim down. They love to use deceit; they pronounce blessings with their mouths, but inwardly they utter curses. (Selah) ⁵Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me hope. ⁶He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be shaken. ⁷God delivers me and exalts me; God is my strong protector and my shelter. ⁸Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him. God is our shelter. (Selah)

3 Explanation

What Prayer Actually Is

Prayer is not a formula. It's not a performance. It's not twisting God's arm to get what you want. At its heart, prayer is simply being with God — talking, listening, sometimes just sitting in His presence.

Jesus modelled this. He withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). Before every major decision, He prayed. After exhausting days of ministry, He prayed. Prayer wasn't an add-on to His life — it was the engine of His life.

Key Verses to Sit With

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'"

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

A Simple Framework

If you don't know where to start, Jesus gave us a pattern in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). It's not a script to recite mindlessly — it's a shape for the conversation:

Adoration — "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" — Start by recognising who God is
Surrender — "Your kingdom come, your will be done" — Align your heart with His purposes
Dependence — "Give us today our daily bread" — Ask for what you need, honestly
Confession — "Forgive us our debts" — Bring your failures into the light
Forgiveness — "As we also have forgiven our debtors" — Release those who've hurt you
Protection — "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" — Ask for strength for the road ahead

You don't need eloquent words. You don't need to pray for an hour. You just need to show up honestly. God already knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8) — prayer isn't about informing God; it's about connecting with Him.

A word from Pastor Claudette: Some of my deepest moments with God have been wordless. Sitting in the car after a hard day, tears running, unable to form a sentence — and knowing He was there. Prayer doesn't require polish. It requires presence. Just come as you are. He's already listening.

4 Application

Making It Personal

What does your prayer life look like right now — honestly? (No judgement.)
Which part of the Lord's Prayer pattern feels most natural to you? Which feels most unfamiliar?
What would it look like for you to set aside five minutes a day to simply talk to God?
Is there something you've been carrying that you haven't yet brought to God in prayer? What's holding you back?

Reflection Questions

What does Jesus say is the wrong way to pray? What is the right way? (Matthew 6:5-8)

What pattern does the Lord's Prayer give us for our own conversations with God?

What does Paul say will happen when we bring our anxieties to God in prayer? (Philippians 4:6-7)

What does it mean to "pray continually"? Is that actually possible? (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Log in to record your answers.

5a Prayer

Father, teach me to pray. I confess that I often don't know what to say, or I rush through it, or I skip it altogether. But You invite me to come — not with perfect words, but with an honest heart. Help me to slow down. Help me to listen as much as I speak. I want to know You, not just know about You. Meet me here. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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