“Hello God” – How to Talk to God in Prayer

What is the essential ingredient of a healthy relationship? Two-way conversation. Having frequent dialogs with each other, sharing the big and small things of your life, and most importantly, listening to the other person. Can you imagine any of your relationships without conversation?

The more you talk with someone and the more you really listen, the stronger your relationship will be. 

In the same way, we need to engage God in frequent, two-way conversation in order to build a strong relationship.

Wondering how to talk to God in prayer? Keep reading to find three keys to opening that conversation with God and develop a strong, vibrant relationship with him.

Prayer is our conversation with God

I used to be really intimidated by prayer. I heard so many beautiful prayers at church, ancient and poetic, but those words wouldn’t come to me on my own. I heard others pray and their words always sounded perfect, so fluid and asking for just what the occasion or group needed. How was I supposed to do this? I just didn’t know how to talk to God.

It wasn’t until I understood this concept of conversation that I began to feel comfortable in prayer.

Prayer is not about the words or how we say them, it’s about entering into that conversation and sharing our lives with God.

Sure, there are some beautiful prayers we can use and different techniques to connect with God in prayer, but the essence is to have a conversation. That conversation is how we build a relationship with God and allow Him to enter into our lives.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” ~Martin Luther

Prayer doesn’t need any special formula, only that you care about building a relationship with God.

When you’re building a relationship with someone, you invest in conversation to get to know them and share your lives with each other. The same is true in prayer.

Let’s look at 3 crucial components for how to talk to God in prayer.

3 Crucial Components for How to Talk to God in Prayer:

1) Relationships are built on the frequency of conversation

How often do you talk to your friends, your spouse, your parents, your children? The more frequently you talk to them, the closer you are – am I right? When we go days, weeks, months without talking to someone, we’re just not as close.

I’m still close friends with my childhood best friend, but we don’t live in the same city and sometimes go months without talking. We know the big things going on in each others’ lives and pick back up quickly when we do talk, but we don’t have that day-to-day knowledge and intimacy we once had.

The same is true with God. The more you talk with Him, the closer you’ll be with Him.

Prayer isn’t just for Sunday mornings or bedtime, it’s for all the time.

Pray when you wake, pray when as you drive around town, pray before you get out of your car at work, pray over your children as they play, pray as you face decisions and concerns throughout the day, pray when you feel the stress and worry creeping into your heart.

2) Good conversation is always two-sided

Ever talk with someone who monopolizes the conversation and makes it all about them? I think we’ve all been in those, but they’re not enjoyable or productive conversations.

A good conversation is always a two-sided discussion.

An exchange of pleasantries and inquiry about how each other is doing. A compliment to the other person, something to make them feel good or boost them up. Questions and discussion about the other person’s life. A conversation about your own. Maybe an ask about something needed.

God wants this same kind of conversation with us.

So, maybe open with a compliment, acknowledge something amazing you’ve noticed that God created – a beautiful sunrise, an awe-inspiring moment – or thank Him for His creation or blessings in your life. Then, instead of just making a list of demands and requests, also ask Him for guidance and direction.

Make the conversation more two-sided by asking Him to enter into the discussion.

3) Listening is perhaps the most important part of conversation

If we don’t take the time to listen in a conversation, then we’re just talking at someone – and they’re not likely to continue the relationship for very long.

God wants us to listen for Him too.

We need to believe in prayer and believe that He will engage us in the conversation.

Believing in each other – that’s a key part of a relationship, too. God may not speak with an audible voice and may not speak during your specific prayer time, but we need to be looking and listening for His responses.

How do you talk to God in prayer?

How are you praying today? Do you have these crucial components for how to talk to God built into your prayer conversations or could your conversations use a little improvement?

Try imagining that God is sitting in the room with you and talk to him. Start with “hello”.

Begin the conversation, share your heart, and then listen – really listen – for his response.

Resources:

Below are some books about prayer you may also find helpful (I’ve read many of these and the others are on my wish list). These are affiliate links, but please know that I only recommend books and products I stand behind.

This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview