Is There A Wrong Way To Pray?

Last Updated on January 26, 2022 by Avi Steen

Is there a wrong way to pray? There are many different opinions on how to pray. Some people believe that there is only one way to pray, and that is the right way.

Others believe that there is no wrong way to pray, as long as you are sincere in your prayers. In this blog post, we will take a look at the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:1-13 and see what Jesus has to say about prayer.

This post is all about is there a wrong way to pray?

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How NOT to Pray

Matthew 6:5 tells us “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Don’t pray to be seen.

You will not get any recognition from God for doing that.

God looks at your heart. He knows our heart’s desires, so we don’t have to go out screaming our prayers in front of everyone (doing so for the wrong reasons).

Don’t pray to be heard and admired by others.

The hypocrites would sound trumpets before they prayed according to the bible. They announced when they were going to pray so ALL of the attention was on them and not on God.

Don’t pray empty repetitions.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again” Matthew 6:7

In Matthew chapter six, Jesus gives us instructions on how to pray. He says “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7).

So, when you pray, don’t just talk to God without thinking about what you are saying.

Take the time to listen to what God is saying to you.

How TO Pray

Pray in secret.

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:6

He wants us to go into our prayer closets! Our war rooms, our bathrooms, and our secret places. He wants us to get into His presence and develop a one on one connection with Him sis!

Pray in praise and honor to God.

When we pray, let’s come before God as one who is forgiven and loved. Let’s come with thanksgiving and praise!

This is where the hypocrites fell short. Giving God honor and humbling ourselves to Him.

God already knows what we want and need. Prayer is to remind ourselves that WE need Him!

The Lord’s Prayer

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer. This is considered to be the model prayer that we should pray. It covers all the important aspects of prayer, such as praising God, asking for forgiveness, and asking for things in life.

9 

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth, as it is in heaven.

11 

Give us this day our daily bread.

12 

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer Bible Study

Below is a bible study I recently did with my faith and fitness accountability group. If you’d like to join our group, learn more here.

So, is there a wrong way to pray? No, there is not. As long as you are sincere in your prayers and you take the time to listen to what God is saying to you, you are praying the right way.

This post was all about is there a wrong way to pray?

Thank you for reading! I hope this blog post has helped you to understand that there is no wrong way to pray, as long as you are sincere and take the time to listen to what God is saying to you. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below.