Boy I get to start this one and all that I do is talk to God, Jesus and the holy spirit all day long. Yes, we are to pray for the things we need and want for others and ourselves. But, how do we do that, start with thank you for all the things you have done for me. Let him know it's for others or for yourself, even though he already knows. When I see that someone has been hurt. I say, "Father I don't know who they are, but you do. Please put your hand upon them to help them through this pain." It is not so much that it has to be a formal setting and proper word structure, but that it is from your heart to his. I sometimes have the problem of rambling, like now, but I'm sure he still listens. In God's Grace John

I can't remember how I learned to to pray, but I tell you I am definitely still learning. Over the years, I see myself changing the way I pray partially based on the way I hear others pray. I used to be so formal in the way I would talk to God. Now, it's definitely more conversational. I even crack the occasional joke. I find find myself having a way more powerful prayer life when I'm sharing from the heart and not worried if I'm saying the right, formal thing.

I still stuggle with prayer. But god is helping me everyday with that. The more I do not worry who is nexts to me or if im praying right the more powerful my prayer gets. The more i talk to daddy and the more i have a relationship the way i should and let him lead my way the more deep my prayer gets.

I learned to "pray" in the Catholic Church. Then I learned to PRAY when I realised who God was and that prayer is talking to Him so that he can talk to you. Just say what's on your mind and heart and see where the conversation goes!

I can pray but am unable to make long prayers at devotions unlike my other brothers and sisters are able. I am a catholic and at our church it is the priest who shares the word and prays. I am so frustrated becasue I am working for a christian ministry where we do devotions every morning and sometimes I am asked to pray and share the word from the bible and am unable to do so. Please help and advise how to go about it.

Thanks charmaine

I think the prime Biblical standard for prayer has to be the Lord's Prayer that Jesus taught. But the Psalms and other prayers are valuable too.

I've often used a simple technique I was taught as a child to lead group prayer, one that follows the pattern of the whole Biblical story of God and his people: A.C.T.S.

Adoration: start with praise for God because he is God, we are not. He created and redeemed us and is worthy of praise.

Confession: being in God's presence, we cannot help but confess our failures, shortcomings, and laments. Often this has to do with why we've gathered for prayer in the first place.

Thanksgiving: knowing that God is merciful, how has he already blessed us? How has he already forgiven what we've just lamented?

Supplication: What are our requests of God? What do we want God to do? How do we want his Spirit to move? We think of prayer as asking God for stuff, but it's really only one part of it.

I've used this pattern in all sorts of situation,s from dinner, to devotions, to leading the whole congregation in an extended prayer in worship.

Finally, I would recommend Richard Foster's book on Prayer as a good one for personal devotions.