HOW SHOULD I PRAY?

How should I pray?

by Kimberley Payne

Path through the woods
P.A.T.H. – learning to pray.

Years ago, if I felt that I wanted or needed something I would ask my brother and sister-in-law to pray for me. My brother was a pastor and I felt he had a “direct line” to God. Of course, I would only ask if it was very important or something I thought worthy of prayer.

My own prayers consisted mostly of reciting words I had memorized as a child, such as the Lord’s Prayer. If I asked for something I wanted, I left it to chance. I believed it was happenstance if my prayer was answered and I thought that it couldn’t hurt to ask.

My prayers today are much different. Today my definition of prayer is not just reciting words or asking for stuff, but rather it is a conversation with a loving Father.

In my book, Fit for Faith, I follow the acronym P-A-T-H to prayer.

P stands for Praise

Prayer is not just about asking for things but it is about telling God about the things you adore about Him. He is praiseworthy. Many times I open my prayer time with praise, letting God know how much I appreciate and love Him.

A stands for Admit

I admit that I am a sinner and confess my sins. Sometimes I admit something obvious like gossiping – other times the Holy Spirit reveals to me where I have sinned. 1 John 1:8 states that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

T stands for Thanksgiving

I thank God for all that He is and all that He does for me. Some days my prayer time is spent entirely on thanking Him.

H stands for Help

This is the time when I can ask for His help and bring my requests to Him. I can pray for my own needs and the needs of others.I have no trouble spending fifteen minutes a day in prayer, especially when I consider prayer to be more than reciting memorized words or just asking for things. I challenge you to spend fifteen minutes each day following the PATH to prayer.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2 NIV).

Kimberley Payne

Kimberley is a motivational speaker and author. Her writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live lives that glorify God. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com

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