The Beginners Guide to the Amazing Gift of Prayer

The Holy Spirit

• Prayer is a wonderful gift from God that allows us to communicate with Him. Before Jesus was crucified, He comforted His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17).
• He continued to comfort them by saying, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will also live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:18-21).
• Believing that Jesus Christ died, rose from the dead, and is your Lord and Savior is when the Holy Spirit enters your heart. God hears your prayers when you believe in Him.

A Gift to Us

• Jesus then reveals the Holy Spirit — “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:25-27). Therefore, The Holy Spirit lives in us because Jesus ascended to Heaven and God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts as our Advocate.
• I want you to know, it was not until I became serious about my prayer life that I truly realized the generous gift of prayer. Because our Heavenly Father loves you and me so much, He sent His only Son to die our deserved death and the Holy Spirit now lives in us. We were born into a fallen world. God wants us to communicate to Him. He eagerly awaits for us to call upon Him.

What is Prayer? 

• Prayer is the communication from us to God, opening our hearts and admitting that we need God in all things. When we pray, we submit to God and ask that His will be done.
• There is no correct way to pray. Simply have a conversation with God. Fancier words do not make your prayers better. God wants you to show up as you are and pour your heart out to Him. Prayer is not a formality, it is a intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Getting started with Prayer 

• The amazing thing about prayer is that all you need is your willingness to clear your mind and talk to God. You can pray at any moment, wherever you are.

Common Questions/FAQ About Prayer

• How often should I pray?
  • This will be entirely up to you. The more you pray and allow yourself to open up to God, the more comfortable you will feel. Try setting a timer on your phone to pause and pray.
• Does praying work?
  • God longs to hear from you and have an intimate relationship with you. He hears our prayers. However, trusting God means trusting Him even when your prayers are not answered the way you want them to be. It is ultimately God’s Will that will be done.
• Will I get better at praying?
  • Yes! When I first started praying, I was not sure if I was doing it correctly. However, the more I prayed and became vulnerable with God, the easier it became to talk to Him more often.

Common Questions/FAQ About Prayer

• Should I pray with others?
  • Yes! “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (John 5:16).
• What do I pray about?
  • Whatever is on your heart. Ask for forgiveness, give thanks for all that God has done in your life and will continue to do, pray for protection and safety over your loved ones. Is something troubling you? Pray about it. Pray about everything. God wants to hear it all. When you pray, you are telling God that you trust Him.
• Where can I find people to pray with and pray for me?
  • Your local church. Search for “church near me” on Google and check out their website. If they have a phone number, give them a call and let them know that you would like to pray with someone.
  • You can always email me your prayer requests at contact@camireneejones.com and be confident that I will be praying for you!

The Last Thing You Need to Know About Prayer

• There is no perfect way to pray. You just have to begin. Know that God is waiting to hear from you and you will get more comfortable praying with time. I’m praying for you, sweet friend, that you will utilize the amazing gift of prayer.
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