Learning how to start a prayer can feel uncertain, even for people who have prayed for years. I’ve been there myself, sitting quietly, wanting to talk to God, but not sure where to begin. The good news is that Jesus already showed us how. In The Lord’s Prayer, He gave us a pattern to follow. It’s not just a set of words to memorize but a model prayerthat shapes how we speak to God from the heart.
Understanding how to pray begins with seeing what Jesus emphasized: worship, surrender, and dependence. Each section of The Lord’s Prayer invites us into a real, personal relationship with God. When you see it that way, prayer becomes less about saying the “right” words and more about having the right heart. Every Christian prayer can follow this rhythm and still be deeply personal.
1. Start with Praise – “Our Father in Heaven…”
The first step in learning how to start a prayer is to begin with praise. Jesus begins The Lord’s Prayer with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” That opening reminds us that prayer is about relationship. We are talking to a loving Father who is both near and holy.
When I start prayer this way, my focus shifts from my needs to His nature. I often say something simple, like, “God, You are good and faithful. Thank You for being with me today.” This sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Fun fact: At one point I didn’t speak to God for three years. Yeah, there’s that. So we’ve all been there. It’s about taking the first steps back to God. Start talking.
Praise helps us remember who we’re speaking to. It also helps every Christian prayer start from gratitude instead of worry. That’s why this first part of the model prayer is essential, because it turns our attention toward the One who holds everything together. Learning how to pray starts here: by recognizing God’s greatness.
2. Move to Surrender – “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done…”
After praise comes surrender. This part of The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to align our will with God’s. Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” It’s a bold statement of trust.
When I surrender in prayer, I let go of my plans and invite God to take control. Sometimes that means admitting I don’t understand everything. I might say, “Lord, I don’t know what’s next, but I trust You completely.”
This attitude changes everything. When surrender becomes part of Christian prayer, peace begins to replace anxiety. It’s one of the reasons Jesus gave us this model prayer to show that obedience opens the way to deeper faith. The more I practice this, the more I learn how to pray with a heart that listens before it speaks.
3. Bring Your Needs – “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread…”
Finally, Jesus shows us that it’s okay to bring our needs to God. In The Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This teaches us to depend on God for both spiritual and physical needs.
When I pray, I ask God for what I need today, not next week or next year. “Lord, please provide what I can’t on my own. Help me trust You with every detail.” It’s an act of faith to believe that God cares about the small things.
Asking doesn’t make prayer selfish; it makes it honest. Every Christian prayer should include moments of vulnerability. This is where the model prayer becomes personal, where I learn how to pray with sincerity and trust that God hears me.
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Remember the P.S.A. Pattern
When I’m unsure how to start a prayer, I think “P.S.A.”: Praise, Surrender, Ask. It’s a simple way to remember the rhythm of The Lord’s Prayer. This pattern keeps me focused on God’s presence, His authority, and His care for me.
Following this approach transforms every Christian prayer into something real and heartfelt. It’s a practical, faithful way to follow the model prayer Jesus gave us and to keep learning how to pray with confidence and humility.
Final Thought
Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. When I follow The Lord’s Prayer, I always know how to start a prayer that feels authentic. Praise first, surrender second, ask last, that’s the pattern Jesus gave. I really hope this helps you out there.
If you keep practicing this model prayer, you’ll find that Christian prayer becomes more natural and sincere. Over time, you’ll not only learn how to pray, but also how to rest in God’s presence every day.
Pastor Rick Penn is an ordained pastor, writer, and the founder of Get-Prayer.com, a resource built to help believers develop a consistent, grounded prayer life.
With more than 20 years of preaching the Gospel, Pastor Rick brings deep theological training and lived pastoral experience to everything he writes. He holds a Master of Divinity from Virginia University of Lynchburg, an M.A. with a concentration in New Testament Studies from Baptist Bible Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Averett University.
His writing reflects a personal commitment to making prayer accessible to everyday Christians. Whether he is writing a prayer for someone in a hospital waiting room, walking through fear about the future, or sitting down with a blank prayer journal for the first time, Pastor Rick writes from a place of both theological grounding and pastoral care.
Pastor Rick hosts In The Moment, a Christian television program airing on Roku through AIM Christian Television. Viewers can watch the show at aimchristian.com/yourmoment and listen as a podcast on Spotify.
Before founding Get-Prayer.com, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he built his communication skills as a writer, editor, and public affairs professional. He now applies those disciplines directly to ministry and teaching.
Every article on this site reflects his core conviction: Prayer is not a performance of faith. It is the daily practice that holds everything else together.
Pastor Rick Penn is the author of all content on Get-Prayer.com.
Rick currently resides in Pennsylvania, where he continues to teach, write, and encourage believers to deepen their walk with God through prayer and the study of Scripture.
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