“You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.” If you’ve ever gone through a difficult season in life, you’ve probably seen this written on your social media accounts or even whispered in your ear. In those moments, the words seem a bit trite because you know deep down that the person who uttered them probably isn’t going to pray for you. So, naturally, you’ve got some issues with the concept of prayer.
You’ve also probably heard a lot of things about prayer — from people praying in tongues to others, who “pray it and claim it,” or maybe you’ve been told you have to pray to saint for it to count.  And, to you, praying probably seems way more complicated than it’s worth. Not to mention, you’ve wondered more than a time or two if God actually hears your prayers or if He even listens.
Here’s the thing about prayer, though, it’s actually pretty darn simple. There doesn’t have to be a lot of forethought, and the purpose of prayer isn’t to treat Jesus as a spiritual vending machine as you’ve maybe seen some people do.
Prayer is all about talking to Jesus. It’s like having a conversation with a close friend or family member. To be honest, you don’t even have to close your eyes. And, guess what, you can pray when you’re angry. You can tell Jesus that you’re frustrated and hurt. It’s ok, we promise.
Here are some quotes to help answer your question, “What did Jesus say about prayer?”
Prayer is powerful. Jesus said prayer is powerful. We see it time and time again in the Bible, where prayer changed the outcome of something. God always answers prayers. Sometimes, though, those answers aren’t exactly what we would have expected.
Never stop praying. Jesus also encourages to “pray without ceasing.” What in the world does that mean, you may be asking. It’s literally what it sounds like: as you go throughout your day, pray continuously, even for the little things.
Pray for everything. Speaking of little things, nothing is too small or too big to pray for. If you’re thankful for your coffee, pray about it. If you’re frustrated with a coworker, significant other or child, pray about it. Whatever comes your way, pray about it.
How do I pray?
Praying is easy. Literally, all you have to do is talk to God like you would talk to a friend. You can thank him for the day, you can express your frustration or you can ask for guidance in your life. All you have to do is pray.