Why, When, and How to Pray
According to God's Word
A resource based on biblical principles from the book of Nehemiah and the Lord’s Prayer
"Prayer is a reaction to the greatness of God. When you truly realize how great and awesome God is, wanting to pray won't be an issue."
- Inspired by Nehemiah's example: He rebuilt a 4.5-mile wall in 52 days through prayer, hard work, and unity.
Scholars and historians estimated that building the 4.5-mile wall around Jerusalem (the city of David and temple mount) should have taken over a year with the size of their labor force. Historical records suggest it was about 12-25 feet high and 6-8 feet thick in most sections. Modern construction estimate with today's equipment (excavators, bulldozers, concrete mixers, cranes) and materials (reinforced concrete instead of stone), a similar defensive wall could likely be constructed in 4-8 weeks with a dedicated crew of 50-100 skilled workers. The remarkable aspect to highlight is that with ancient tools, limited technology, and facing opposition, the wall was completed in just 52 days - which historians consider miraculous since it should have taken over a year. This contrast between what was naturally possible then versus what actually happened is central to the point about God's intervention in the rebuilding project.
Why Pray
God is Great and Awesome
He rebuilds broken things (Nehemiah 6:15-16). When problems seem impossible, God moves. Prayer acknowledges His power.
He Cares About Your Problems
"Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Nothing is too small to bring to God.
Not Praying Limits God's Opportunities
"Prayerlessness doesn't limit God's ability. It limits His opportunities." Some miracles won't happen until you pray.
Key Truth: "How foolish to come in with a problem, be in the presence of the Almighty God, and walk out with it."
Think of one problem you've been handling alone. Now consider:
What would change if you brought this to God first?
How might this problem reveal God's greatness?
When to Pray
First Response, Not Last Resort
Nehemiah prayed spontaneously when problems arose - 8 times in his book! Prayer shouldn't be a "Hail Mary" after exhausting all other options.
Where You Have Responsibility
"Where you have responsibility, you pray differently." You pray more urgently for your marriage, kids, or job than others can.
In Every Season of Life
God places you in realms of responsibility where problems prepare you for greater roles. Pray consistently through transitions.
Warning: "How ridiculous is it that we miss out talking to the Creator of the universe for shopping, TV, or sports?"
Try setting daily prayer triggers:
When I wake up
Before meals
Before making decisions
When problems arise
When I feel stressed
How to Pray
Frontload with Praise
Like Nehemiah (1:5-11), begin by focusing on God's greatness before requests. Start with "Lord, You're worthy!" not "I need..."
Conversation, Not Ritual
Prayer is an "unforced, desirable response to God's greatness." Talk to Him like a Father (Matthew 6:9).
Cast ALL Your Cares
Bring finances, health, relationships - nothing is too small. "He cares for you"
(1 Peter 5:7).
Key Principle: "Effective prayer begins with the size of your God, not the size of your problems."
Pray Like Nehemiah
Pray consistently, persistently, and boldly
Learning from the Lord’s Prayer
- Matthew 6:9–13
Praise, Priority, Provision, Pardon, Power, Praise
This provides a practical, structured way to pray using the model Jesus gave us, often called The Lord's Prayer. These phrases are not meant to be repeated mindlessly, but to serve as an outline to guide us.
Praise
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Prayer begins with worship. Jesus teaches us to start by recognizing God as our loving Father and exalting His holiness. So address God as "Father," acknowledging the intimate and tender relationship you have with Him through Jesus. You are His beloved child. "Hallowed be your name" means to see God for who He is - holy, exalted, and sufficient. When we see God as beautiful and not just useful, our hearts are re-centered on Him.
Priority
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Instead of beginning with our needs, we surrender to God’s priorities. We are asking God what He wants to do today and aligning our agenda with His. This is about discovering what God is doing and joining Him in it, rather than just telling Him what we want. It reminds us that we are a minor character in His story, and our purpose is to contribute to the glory of His name. Ask: “God, what are You doing today, and how can I join You?”
Provision
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
We depend on God for every good thing - physical needs, wisdom, strength, and the ability to live faithfully. "Bread" is a metaphor for everything we need to live and accomplish God's plan. This is a prayer for all our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It is a recognition that we are entirely dependent on Him for every aspect of our life.
Pardon
“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive others who sin against us.”
Prayer keeps us humble and reconciled. This phrase helps us release anger and bitterness towards others. As God forgives us in Christ, we extend forgiveness to others. It is a moment to remind ourselves of the immense grace God has shown you through the cross and to extend that same grace and love to those who have wronged us. This releases bitterness and fills us with His grace.
Power
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
We cannot overcome sin and spiritual attack on our own. This is a prayer for strength. It acknowledges that everything necessary to fall into a spiritual tailspin is already inside you. We ask God for His protection, guidance, and strength to walk in righteousness and resist the enemy. We ask God to protect you from your own weaknesses and from the external evil that seeks to trip you up. It is an admission of our powerlessness against sin and evil without God's help.
Praise
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
We end as we began - with worship. Prayer lifts our eyes beyond our needs to His eternal reign and goodness. This final part returns to a posture of praise, declaring God's sovereignty and eternal glory. It reaffirms that He is in control and worthy of all adoration. Everything begins and ends with God’s glory.
How to Use This Model
The key to prayer is the word "Father." Approach God like a child approaches a parent they know loves them. Try spending 10 minutes a day praying through each step. After 21 days, it can become a habit as natural as breathing.
“Just ask your Heavenly Father.”
🗺️ GPS Analogy
Another way to think about personalizing the model prayer is like a GPS navigation system. The GPS provides a clear, structured route - the main road to your destination. This is like the core outline of the prayer: Praise, Priority, Provision, Pardon, and Power.
However, as you travel, you make the journey your own. You might take a scenic detour to enjoy a beautiful view (a moment of special praise), stop at a rest area (a pause to reflect on a specific temptation), or even pull over to help someone on the side of the road (a specific prayer for a friend's needs). The GPS provides the framework, but your personal choices and the unique circumstances you encounter along the way are what make your journey, and thus your prayer, truly your own.
You are following the intended route, but you are also adding your own unique stops and side trips that are relevant to your life at that specific moment.
Created with ❤️ for anyone seeking to grow in prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I treat prayer like an emergency tool instead of a way of life. Teach me to pray - consistently, persistently, and boldly. Fill me with the knowledge of Your will. Give me wisdom and understanding through Your Spirit, and grow me into the kind of person who lives fully aligned with You. Amen.
"And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
