P - R - A - Y Prayer is the opening of the heart to God, as to a friend. Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears, before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children.

"The Lord is very compassionate, and merciful." His heart of love is touched by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe.

Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.

Ellen G. White, in the book Steps to Christ.
P - Praise & Thanksgiving

Praise God for His character attributes -- power, patience, mercy, creativity, etc. (See Psalm 100:4) Thank Him for the blessings He has given you.

R -- Repent

Confess every sin in your life of which you are aware.

Daily ask God, "Is there anything between You and Me?"

Pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139:23--"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Claim the promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
A -- Ask

Ask for the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit come wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear of the Lord [a hatred for evil, Proverbs 8:13] and proper judgment [discretion]. (Isaiah 11:1-4). Also you can ask for the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Ask for an awareness of the presence of Jesus throughout the day. He has promised that He will always be with us and that He will never leave us or forsake us. (Matt. 28:20)

Ask for help for your friends and family members. Tell the Lord their needs.

Tell your Heavenly Father all of your own personal needs. Tell Him what makes you happy, what makes you sad, what makes you angry--all of it. He has invited us to cast all our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Y -- Yield

Yield yourself to God. Ask Him to manage your life. Ask Him to direct your path. Tell Him, "Whatever you want me to do, I will do, for I know you love me." He will protect you, guide you, change you into the person He wants you to be, and He will lead you to the Kingdom!"

Study the Word of God for instruction, and to search out His will for you. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [or woman] of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Pray and study with an attitude of willingness to follow where God's Word leads.

God's Word is dependable. Many things in our world are changing on a daily basis, but God's Word remains constant. God's Word, the Holy Bible, is more reliable than our senses! 1 Peter 1:23, "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever."


*There are many kinds of prayer found in the Bible. This prayer guide is merely a suggestion for those who would like to pray, but may not know how to begin.



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