How to Pray Effectively: 25 Ways to Pray Like a Warrior

If you are struggling with your prayer life, you can learn how to pray effectively and connect with God. Some of these methods may be new and creative ways to pray. Perhaps you have never known about them, but once you start practicing them, you may find you pray like a real prayer warrior in your war room.

If there is one thing I can stress, it is that prayer is a superpower that absolutely works. Satan wants you to believe that prayer is boring, doesn’t work, and is, in fact, a waste of time. But that is not true.

While answers to prayer do come slowly, they are usually more sustainable than other methods such as manipulating, controlling, or pushing to get your way.

Oh, and don’t forget Jesus prayed all the time. If Jesus prayed, how much more should we be connecting with our Heavenly Father?  If you are tired of feeling discouraged, powerless, or even angry, learn how to pray effectively while using one of these 25 prayer methods.

RELATED: 19 Creative Ways to Have a Quiet Time with God (That Are Fun)

How to Pray Effectively

Did you know there are tons of ways to pray? Most people think fasting and prayer are the only connections to God, but that’s not true.

Check out these 25 ways on how to pray effectively. These “how to pray examples” will change the way you pray when you start thinking creatively. Basically, you are learning how to pray according to the Bible because every suggestion here is straight from scripture.

      1. Worship/adoration

Praise and worship through song either listening or participating is one of the ways to pray to God with complete adoration.

Psalm 100:1

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing” (KJV)!

      2. Thanksgiving

Giving thanks every time we pray is such an important part of our prayer life. Don’t forget this step every time you talk to God.

      3. Intercessory prayer

This method of prayer is how we should pray when we stand in the gap for someone who is too weak to stand on their own.

      4. Petition prayer

Supplication is one of the most used forms of prayer; it is usually in our time of need that we start praying.

Don’t be afraid to ask God for what you need. He wants to hear your requests.

Phil. 4:6-7

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (KJV).

      5. Fasting

Withholding food, social media, dessert, chocolate, or some other pleasure and praying instead is a way to connect with God.

      6. Meditation

Focusing on meditating on God’s word. Pick a scripture or chapter to think about as you connect to God and His word.

This is how to pray effectively.

Psalm 1:2

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night” (KJV).

      7. Repentance/confession prayers

Repentance is important when approaching God and needs to be done often.

James 5:16

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV).

      8. Scripture prayers

Get out your Bible and start praying scriptures. Add your name or the names of others into scripture to make it personal. Praying Psalms or Proverbs is a good place to start.

      9. Breath prayers

Simple short phrases said in a breath can be just as powerful as long prayers. “Help me, Jesus; God, I need you; or Lord, give me strength” are some good breath prayers that work.

This is how to pray effectively.

     10.  A. C. T. S. method of prayer

Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication are the 4 methods of prayer that many people use to pray.

     11. Prayer list

Make a list of prayers and pray daily for the requests. Scratch them off when God answers them.

     12. The Lord’s Prayer

Praying the Lord’s Prayer is one of the best methods of prayer. If Jesus used this way of praying, so should we.

This is how to pray effectively.

Matthew 6:9-13

     13. Prayers of lament

The book of Lamentations is one big lament, a grieving of sin. King David often lamented in Psalms. Take time to lament your sins, and then follow up with a repentance prayer.

Read Lamentations.

     14. Prayer art

Doodle or paint your prayers in a prayer journal or on paper. Some Bibles now have a section for prayer art. It is so much fun!

     15. Prayer walk

One of the methods of prayer that I enjoy on a daily basis is prayer walking. There is nothing like getting outside and talking to God in nature.

     16. Corporate prayer

Praying with a group of believers at church or another large gathering is one of the most powerful methods of prayer. God hears the cries of His people.

Acts 1:14

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (KJV).

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     17. Sing your prayers

Singing your prayers is one of the most creative ways to pray. You can make up the words as you sing. It can be a private concert between you and God.

This is how to pray effectively.

     18. Pray written prayers

I love reading the prayers written by Stormie O’Martian. Her ways of praying to God have changed the prayer lives of so many people including mine.

     19. Prayer journal

Keep track of your prayers by writing in a journal. It is a good way to not only pray but process your feelings and give them over to God. And you can doodle.

     20. Prayer group

Get a group of people together at your home to pray. A creative way to pray is to offer dessert afterward.

     21. Internal prayer

If you want to learn how to pray, start with an internal dialogue with God. You can keep this going throughout your day. It is a great way to get comfortable with the idea of prayer.

     22. Imaginative prayer

This is one of the most creative ways to pray. The idea is to focus on the gospels. Imagine yourself with Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, sitting on his lap as a child, or talking to him at dinner. Talk to him like you would a friend. Or even imagine yourself resting in His arms.

      23. Laying in bed

There are no rules on how we should pray. I have spent more time laying in bed at night praying than probably any other location. I think there is probably a hole in the ceiling straight to God.

      24. Art prayers

Art is a wonderful way to connect with God, especially art about God, Jesus, the cross, or some other spiritual focus.

      25. Listening

Most of the time, prayer involves doing something active. While that is good, a time of quietness and silence is so important. If you have never stopped to listen to God’s voice, add this element to your prayer life. It will change everything.

This is how to pray effectively like a warrior.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (KJV).

RELATED: War Room Prayer Strategy: 7 Tips to Pray Powerful Prayers

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What Should You Say When You Pray?

If you are struggling with what to say when you pray, start a prayer journal. It is almost like a diary only you are talking to God instead of yourself.  It can be as easy as opening up Microsoft Word or Pages and writing your prayers.

If you want to have a little fun, here are some prayer journal methods or ideas to start you off:

• Get a notebook and decorate it.
• Start each journal entry with a prompt like being grateful, praise, love, wisdom, faith, etc.
• Spend time praising God for who He is. Make a list of what you are grateful for today.
• Write out your needs.
• Pray for others in your life such as family and friends.
• Pray for our country.
• If you are artistic, use drawings to illustrate your prayers.
• Make sure to note any answered prayer.

There are lots of prayer journal ideas such as splitting your notebook into three sections to make it easier to keep track of your prayer list, prayer journal, and artwork.

Whatever methods of prayer you use in your prayer journal, know that it will be a special place for you to see God work in a tangible way.

RELATED: 9 Shocking Reasons Why God Compares Us to Sheep In the Bible

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