How often have you scrolled past a post that suggested “3 creative ways to pray” or “10 ways to pray” and kept scrolling?
Did you think…BORRINNGG? Ain’t got time for that.
Sadly, we don’t always understand the power of prayer or truly comprehend that God loves us and wants a deeper relationship with us through prayer. Did you know that prayer and fasting are what broke a 7-year family estrangement with my parents?
When I say it works, I mean it!!
Instead, we shy away, thinking it’s ineffective, we are too far gone, or our family member will never change. If that doesn’t work, Satan ensures we are too busy with a crazy schedule.
RELATED: How to Multiply Your Time with a Daily Family Schedule
That’s what Satan wants. He wants you to stay defeated and stuck in your mess, continuing to ruminate on your problems (and self) instead of God.
Once you get your eyes off yourself, you will start seeing breakthroughs! (Add fasting for a bigger punch to Satan’s gut.)
To connect with God more deeply, check out these 29 epic, creative ways to pray. There are even examples to help you along!
Think it’s too hard? Think again. It’s just talking to God like a friend (because He is your friend).
RELATED: 9 Shocking Reasons Why God Compares Us to Sheep In the Bible
29 Creative Ways to Pray to God
Are you not sure how to pray? Or perhaps you are stuck in a spiritual rut.
Check out these epic prayer methods if you need creative ways to pray!
These “how to pray examples” will make your time with God more natural and not forced. You will be shocked to learn that there are so many creative ways to pray to God.
1. Prayer walk
Walk outside and pray quietly or out loud. You can walk in your neighborhood or in nature. As you walk, you are simply talking to God, just like you would a friend.
2. Location prayers
Go to a location and pray in person. Pray for intervention, blessings, or whatever you request at that location. This is one of the most creative ways to pray and break strongholds.
3. Prayer closet
Find a space in your house that is quiet. Go there to pray. Pray scripture back to God. Worship Him.
RELATED: 7 Powerful Ways to Increase Your War Room Prayer Strategy
4. Drive and pray
This may be the only time you have alone. You can talk out loud, play worship music, and pray without distraction.
5. In bed
I often lay in bed at night and pray; it helps me calm down and sleep. Many people practice this prayer method. I think there is a “spiritual hole” in my ceiling as so many prayers have been lifted to God there.
6. Internal dialogue
Talk with God throughout the day. Basically, this is just a conversation you have with Him as you are accomplishing tasks.
You can say, “Lord, help me understand my child and love him right now.” Or, “God, show me how to respond to this coworker. I love you, God, and want to represent you well.”
7. Prayer journal
Write your prayers in a prayer journal. Here’s how to make a prayer journal. You can do it on your computer or paper. I date my journal so I can look back and see how God has worked. Don’t forget to thank Him for the answers.
RELATED: 25 Different Methods of Prayer That Are Powerful
8. Corporate prayer
Pray together with your church or group when they offer prayer time. You can agree with others and add your dialogue internally. This is one way to pray, as in the Bible.
9. With your kids
Pray with your kids at meals and every night before bed. Pray for missionaries, family, friends, their concerns, etc. This is one of the best ways to pray as a family.
RELATED: How to Pray For Your Children and Get Results
10. With your spouse
Start praying with your spouse; it will change your marriage. My book Marriage Interrupted goes into great detail about how to do this. This is the single best thing you can do for your marriage.
RELATED: How to Change Your Husband Without Saying a Word
11. Read written prayers
I love the prayers from The Power of a Praying… by Stormie O’Martian. Use the prayers at the end of the chapters. These prayers teach you how to pray in accordance with God’s word.
12. Notecards with written prayers
Write down your prayers on notecards and say them often. I have scriptures written on notecards and pray those words with my name inserted in the pronouns. This is one of the best ways to remember to pray daily. (That’s how you use pronouns!)
(Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.)
Get your FREE PRINTABLE SCRIPTURE CARDS PDF and tell yourself the truth daily!
13. Fast
Withhold food, social media, dessert, or something else and pray instead. Take time to remember the sacrifices Jesus made for us.
14. Pray while looking at artwork
Beautiful art is an excellent way to connect with God, especially art about God, the cross, Jesus, or faith. You can focus on the part of the art, pray gratitude prayers, and worship God, who is magnificent in creating beauty.
15. Prayer while holding your children
Pray over your child as you rock them to sleep, hold them, or change their diapers. These prayers are so powerful. This is a good habit to start. You will definitely be praying for them in their teen years, so start NOW!
16. Prayer Group
Put together a prayer group. After sharing their needs, allow each person to pray for another person in the group. Have dessert afterward. Yum! This is one of the most creative ways to pray in a group.
17. Mom’s In Prayer
This is a group of moms at school who pray together (It’s a great way to meet Christian moms). Look for this group at your school. It may be called “Mom’s In Prayer” or some version like it.
RELATED: How to Make Mom Friends: 19 Easy Tips Even Introverts Can Do [Printable]
18. Paint or doodle your prayers
You can do this in your prayer journal. Some Bibles have a section for doodling! I love this as it acknowledges all the artistic prayer warriors. Pictures say a thousand words. If you are creative, this is one of the best ways to pray.
19. Sing your prayers
Put your prayers to a song (when no one is around). Ha! Spend time in gratitude and worship before you give requests.
20. Prayer of repentance
Pray for forgiveness for your sins, rebuke any sins in your family line, and ask God to remove any demonic activity operating around you. This is serious spiritual warfare.
Lamentations (in the Bible) is a good place to go if you want to pray scriptures of lament.
21. Meditation
Focus on the cross and what Jesus has done for you. Remember the grace you have been given as a Christian.
22. A. C. T. S
Pray using these four steps to enter into God’s presence. Do it in order. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (requests). This is one of the most powerful ways to pray.
23. The Lord’s Prayer
Pray the Lord’s prayer. Read it and capitalize on each section. You can add your part and emphasize it.
For instance: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. “God, I worship your holy name. I glorify You for all the ways You have already worked in my life.”
This is one of the ways Jesus taught us to pray. If He did it, it has got to be good!
RELATED: 9 Shocking Reasons Why God Compares Us to Sheep In the Bible [Coloring Page]
24. Armor of God
Visually see yourself putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Remember each weapon that God has given you and use it accordingly. Ask God to help you put on each piece, name by name.
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25. Get a prayer partner
Find a friend and pray together. I have walked the neighborhood praying together as we exercised.
Right now, I meet a friend. We talk, get requests, and pray daily for each other.
26. Prayer prompts
Start your prayers with prompts from the Bible, the internet, or your own. Spend time praising God with prompts that describe who He is.
27. Imaginative prayer
Focus on the gospels and being with Jesus. Visualize yourself with Him in person, on his lap as a child, or in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Talk to Him like a friend, father, or husband about whatever you need.
28. Intercessory prayer
Stand in the gap and pray for someone else who needs intervention. I have done this for years for my husband and kids.
This is one of the ways to pray for God to intervene in a bad situation.
29. Pray scripture
Take verses and add your name to them. Psalms and Proverbs are great places to start praying scripture. This is one of the most creative ways to pray! And the most powerful.
RELATED: War Room Prayer Strategy: 7 Tips to Pray Powerful Prayers
(Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.)
Dealing with marriage or family issues? Purchase your ebook or paperback on Amazon or buy Marriage Interrupted or Estranged at your favorite digital store.
Creative Ways to Pray: How Do You Make Prayer Fun?
Prayer is not hard, nor is it boring! Check out some of these fun prayer methods I think you might enjoy:
- Prayer walk: You can do it outside or on a treadmill. (This is one of the most creative ways to pray!)
- Worship: play your worship music loudly and sing at the top of your voice
- Journal: look back at answered prayers and rejoice!
- Prayer: start a prayer group with friends and then have dessert
- Art: doodle or paint your prayers in pictures
- Games: create fun games around prayer with your kids
RELATED: 19 Creative Ways to Have a Quiet Time with God (That Are Fun)
Even God knows you need some excitement in your prayer life! Let Him ignite the music in your heart in a way that will worship Him in new and fun ways. Let him show you some more creative ways to pray to Him.
Hebrews 6:12 says, “Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won’t become bored with being a Christian, nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience” (The Book).
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What Are the 5 Basic Prayers?
Here is an excellent format for praying to God every day. These five prayers are the A.C.T.S. prayer method, with “intercession” added for intervention in times of trouble. These themes are creative ways to pray in a group.
- Adoration-start your prayer time by worshipping God.
- Confession-confess your sins to God with a heart of repentance.
- Thanksgiving-thank God for all your blessings. Remember what He has already done.
- Supplication-petition prayers that ask for your own needs and the needs of others.
- Intercession-deep prayer for the needs of others is a way to stand in the gap when others are too weak to pray.
RELATED: 25 Different Methods of Prayer That Are Powerful
What Are Good Creative Ways to Pray Using Themes?
If you struggle to pray, check out these creative ways to pray using themes when praying to God. These creative ways to pray will give you plenty to explore as you bring your thoughts to the Almighty.
- Repentance
- Forgiveness
- Community-world/country/state/city
- Wisdom/revelation/truth
- Family
- Church
- Individual needs of people
- Salvation
- Missionaries
- The persecuted
- Place of employment
Prayer is one of the most important things to do as a Christian. If you are not practicing daily prayer, today is the day to start a new habit. You will accomplish way more in the supernatural than in the natural.
Tell me some of your most creative ways to pray! Comment below.
(Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.)
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In it, I share my own experience of a seven-year estrangement from my Christian family and how we eventually reconciled. Furthermore, I provide practical advice to help you navigate your family issues.
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16 Comments
All these are good ways to pray, and the Holy Spirit helps, Romans 8:26, you can also pray specific verses like healing, protection and more, and don’t forget His names. That is a good study. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca, you definitely get it! We can pray scripture and use God’s words back to Him. Yes, the Holy Spirit helps, comforts, guides, and heals our hearts and minds. Thanks for your wonderful comment.
What a wonderful and thorough list of ideas! Thanks, Julie! This was a fresh breath of inspiration for my prayer life. I used to take many prayer walks but have slipped out of the habit. Thanks for this nudge!
Hey, Stacey! I would imagine you have a pretty hefty prayer life and have spent many hours communing in nature. I think of nature when I think of you. How wonderful to see such a strong Christian in this space who loves Jesus and is committed to spreading His word. I pray your books help many people.
Great tips, and so thorough! Love all your ideas shared here!
Jen, thank you! I hope these tips are powerful ways to connect with God everyday.
These are such great ideas! #8: prayer journals have my been one of my favorite ways to pray! Great post!
LaRissa, yes, I love prayer journals! I have had many over the years. It’s so fun to go back and see how God answered those prayers. Thanks for your comment!
Loved all the ideas. I recently started focusing on praying scriptures.
Ufoma, this is such a powerful weapon. I pray scriptures quite often. It helps me put the right words in my mouth when I don’t know what to say. Thanks for your comment.
I love these ideas! Especially the one about praying over your children as you hold them. So powerfully simple and beautiful!
Lieren, yes! This is one of my favorite things to do. I still do it even though my kids are grown. So…I’m not always holding them, but quietly praying when they are telling me about an issue they are having. I pray for God to give me wisdom in my answers. Thanks for commenting.
Love your ideas here! Prayer walking is my favorite!
I do this one quite often. It helps to be outside and connect with God through nature. I wish I lived near woods, but a sidewalk will have to do! Thanks for the comment.
Great tips! I use many of these myself! I particularly like to pray as I take my dog for a walk. Finding quiet moments with young children can be hard! Thanks for sharing these!
Natacha, isn’t that the truth! I often take very long baths just to get away for a bit. My kids are older but I still have one at home. Being a mom is emotional, wonderful, and painful all at once. I wouldn’t trade it though! I have found prayer to be the single best thing to help through some very difficult parenting trials, that is for sure.