Avoid These 5 Common Prayer Mistakes: A Guide for Christians

How to Pray: A Guide to Avoiding Common Mistakes

Prayer is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith. It is a means of communication with God, a way to express our gratitude, ask for guidance, and seek forgiveness. However, many Christians struggle with prayer, either because they don't know how to pray, or they feel like their prayers are not being answered. If you're one of them, this guide is for you. In it, we will explore some common mistakes Christians make when praying, and offer tips on how to pray more effectively.

Prayer Mistake #1: Not Praying

The first mistake Christians make when it comes to prayer is not praying at all. Many people claim to be Christians, but they don't pray regularly. They might say grace before meals or recite the Lord's Prayer in church, but they don't have a personal prayer life. This is a problem because prayer is essential to our relationship with God.

Jesus himself modeled a life of prayer. He would often withdraw to a quiet place to pray (Luke 5:16). He also taught his disciples to pray, giving them the Lord's Prayer as a model (Matthew 6:9-13). If we want to be like Jesus, we need to make prayer a priority in our lives.

Tip #1: Make Prayer a Habit

One way to make prayer a habit is to set aside a specific time each day to pray. It could be first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or before you go to bed at night. Find a time that works for you and stick to it. Start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase the amount of time you spend in prayer.

Another way to make prayer a habit is to pray throughout the day. You don't have to wait until your designated prayer time to talk to God. You can pray while you're driving, while you're doing chores, or while you're waiting in line. Make prayer a natural part of your day-to-day life.

Prayer Mistake #2: Praying with Wrong Motives

Another mistake Christians make when it comes to prayer is praying with the wrong motives. James 4:3 says, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." In other words, if we pray for selfish reasons, our prayers will not be answered.

God wants us to pray for the right reasons. He wants us to pray for his will to be done, not our own (Matthew 6:10). He wants us to pray for others, not just ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). When we pray with the right motives, our prayers are more likely to be answered.

Tip #2: Pray for God's Will to be Done

One way to ensure that we're praying for the right reasons is to pray for God's will to be done. This means surrendering our own will to God's will and trusting that he knows what's best for us. We can pray, "Lord, I want what you want for my life. Help me to trust you and to follow your plan for me."

Another way to pray for the right reasons is to pray for others. We can pray for our friends, family, and even our enemies. We can pray for their needs and for their salvation. When we pray for others, we are putting their needs before our own.

Prayer Mistake #3: Praying to Impress Others

Another mistake Christians make when it comes to prayer is praying to impress others. Jesus warned against this in Matthew 6:5, saying, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

When we pray to impress others, we're not really praying to God. We're more concerned with what other people think of us than we are with pleasing God. This is a dangerous trap to fall into, as it can lead to pride and a lack of authenticity in our relationship with God.

Tip #3: Pray in Private

One way to avoid praying to impress others is to pray in private. Jesus said, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6). When we pray in private, we can be honest and real with God, without worrying about what others might think of us.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with praying in public, as long as our motives are pure. We should pray in public to glorify God, not ourselves. We should also be careful not to use flowery language or fancy words to impress others. God is more concerned with the sincerity of our hearts than the eloquence of our words.

Prayer Mistake #4: Praying without Faith

Another mistake Christians make when it comes to prayer is praying without faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

If we don't believe that God is listening to our prayers, we're wasting our time. We need to approach God with faith, believing that he is able to answer our prayers. This doesn't mean that we will always get what we ask for, but it does mean that we can trust that God knows what's best for us.

Tip #4: Pray with Confidence

One way to pray with faith is to pray with confidence. We can pray, "Lord, I know that you are able to answer my prayer. I trust that you will do what's best for me, even if it's not what I'm asking for." We can also pray with expectancy, believing that God will answer our prayers in his own time and in his own way.

Another way to pray with faith is to pray in the name of Jesus. Jesus said, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:13-14). When we pray in Jesus' name, we are acknowledging our faith in him and our dependence on him.

Prayer Mistake #5: Praying with Unforgiveness

Another mistake Christians make when it comes to prayer is praying with unforgiveness in their hearts. Jesus said, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25).

If we're holding onto bitterness, resentment, or anger towards someone, it can hinder our prayers. We need to forgive others, just as God has forgiven us. This doesn't mean that we have to condone their behavior or forget what they've done to us. It simply means that we release them from the debt they owe us, and we entrust them to God's justice and mercy.

Tip #5: Pray for Forgiveness and for the Ability to Forgive Others

One way to pray with forgiveness in our hearts is to ask God to forgive us for our own sins. We can pray, "Lord, forgive me for holding onto bitterness and resentment towards others. Help me to release them from the debt they owe me, just as you have released me from the debt I owe you."

We can also pray for the ability to forgive others. We can pray, "Lord, I know that forgiving others is not always easy. Please give me the strength and grace to forgive those who have hurt me, and to love them as you love me."

Conclusion

Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of a Christian. It is a means of communication with God, a way to express our gratitude, ask for guidance, and seek forgiveness. However, it's important to avoid some common mistakes that can hinder our prayers. We should make prayer a habit, pray for the right reasons, pray in private, pray with faith, and pray with forgiveness in our hearts.

Remember, prayer is not a magic formula that guarantees that we'll get what we want. God is not a genie who grants our every wish. Rather, prayer is a way for us to align our hearts with God's will, to seek his guidance and wisdom, and to trust in his goodness and love. When we pray in this way, we can be confident that God hears us and that he is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).