Prayer Basics

The importance of prayer and prayer tips

(and tacos)

A prayer quiz (true/false) ☺

1. The only correct prayer posture is head down, eyes closed, hands folded.
2. Praying out loud is the only kind of prayer that counts.
3. You can only pray in church.
4. Prayer is communicating with God.

we Pray 2026

• Encourage everyone to pray more
• Not praying yet? Start small.
• Already praying? Add more communal prayer (Kingdom and LCC), maybe some new dimensions, maybe some new ways of praying.

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• Today: what is prayer, the importance of prayer, some practical prayer tips

What is prayer?

• Webster’s Dictionary definition:
• (1) an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought
• (2) a set order of words used in praying
• Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

The importance of prayer

• Jesus and prayer: modeled and taught
• Jesus prayed often (lesson 2)
• Lord’s Prayer (Life Groups), �before the crucifixion (lesson 3)
• Prayer and the Early Church (lesson 4)
• Christians are praying people

Cosimo Rossellli, Jesus Praying�in the Garden, 1481-1482

Sistine Chapel, Vatican

Prayer Postures

• Hands raised, folded, held out
• Eyes raised/open or down/closed
• Head raised or lowered
• Kneeling, standing, sitting, laying down
• Out loud or silently
• No right or wrong way

Orans, Catacombs, Rome �(c. A.D. 300)

Prayer Content: The Opening

• No right or wrong way
• Our Father, Dear Father, Father God, Dear Jesus, Good Morning Father, Sovereign Lord, Sovereign God, etc.

Prayer Content: The Middle (prayer time!)

• Praise (for who God is: power, majesty, sovereignty, perfection, goodness, love, mercy, grace, etc.)
• Thanksgiving (for God’s blessings in our lives)
• Requests (whatever you need to ask)
• Confession/Repentance (confess sins and repent)

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Prayer Acronyms (mnemonic devices)

• “PRAY”
• Praise (praising God for all of our blessings and for who He is)
• Repent (repenting of our sins to God)
• Ask (asking God for wisdom, guidance, help, etc.)
• Yield (surrendering to God’s will and timing, telling God His will be done)

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Prayer Acronyms

• “ACTS”
• Adoration (praising God for all of our blessings and for who He is)
• Confession (confessing our sins before God)
• Thanksgiving (thanking God for all of our blessings)
• Supplication (asking God for wisdom, guidance, help, etc.)

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Prayer Acronyms

• “BLESS”
• Body (pray for health and protection)
• Labor (pray for work and finances)
• Emotional (pray for peace, joy, and hope)
• Social (pray for relationships and family)
• Spiritual (pray for the salvation and faith of others, and for your relationship with God)

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• Prayer Acronyms: “TACOS” 

• Thanksgiving (start by thanking God for what He has done, including daily blessings, answered prayers, and provision)
• Adoration (praise God for who He is—His character, attributes, and majesty)
• Confession (honestly confess sins, shortcomings, and areas needing improvement to seek forgiveness)
• Others (pray for the needs of friends, family, the community, and the world)
• Self/Supplication (bring personal requests, needs, and desires for guidance to God)

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Prayer Content: The Ending

• “In the name of Jesus, we/I pray”
• Amen (“so be it”)

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• Prayer: Final Thought
• Eloquence not required
• There is no right way or wrong way to pray

Conclusion

• Prayer is vitally important, we need to pray regularly
• Prayer can be a challenge
• Prayer is individual, find your own style/words
• Try an acronym or two
• There is no right way or wrong way to pray (in case you missed it earlier ☺)
• Strive to make prayer a habit (prayer texts)
• Next week: Jesus and Prayer