We hope this series is encouraging and equipping you towards a better prayer life. It’s important in so many ways to keep the line of communication open with our Father. Prayer is an incredibly personal thing for all of us. You won’t and you shouldn’t pray exactly like anyone else. Your personality, your experiences and your season of life will all influence how you pray.

While we shouldn’t copy the exact words we hear others pray, we can definitely learn from others. Let me give you some examples of sentiments I’ve heard others pray that I now express in my own prayer life.

Early in my Christian journey I struggled to pray. But my Pastor was a great example of a man who knew how to pray. He seemed so thankful in his prayers. To this day, that’s the main theme in most of my prayers. I don’t just express thankfulness because I think it belongs there. I approach prayer as a great opportunity I’ve been given. If I don’t feel it that day, I don’t fake it but most of the time it’s there.

A few years back, I heard one of my favorite authors speak on The Lord’s Prayer. He mentioned that he applies the thought “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” to almost every prayer. I expanded on that idea and now I usually ask God to “let His will be done in my family or church or community as it is in heaven” I love the simple way it expresses how I feel.

I recently met a man who came to Christ very late in life. Whether he prays at home or in a group at church, he always ends his prayer with “thank you for waiting for me”. While I don’t say those exact words, I definitely began to express more gratitude for God’s patience in my own life.

Again, never try to copy the way another prays. However you can learn to better express yourself by listening to and agreeing in prayer with others.

In fact, if you have a person like that in your life, learn from them. Also, ask them to pray for you while you learn to have a better prayer life.

Written by Tom Wise © Finding Wonder 2013