Prayer can be an intimidating habit to begin. I remember sitting one night in my bedroom at age 13, wanting to pray. I just didn’t know how to start. Should I be kneeling, or could I sit? Should I speak out loud or think quietly? What happened if my mind wandered?

In the years since that moment, I’ve prayed in many different ways. Many wise people and helpful books have given me guidance on how to begin the process. But the most helpful advice has come from the Bible. Here are just a few things the Bible has to say about prayer:

1. Philippians 4:6 (GNTD)
   In this passage, Paul tells the Philippians about the content of their prayers (they can ask God for what they need), but he also describes the spirit with which they should approach prayer (one of thanksgiving).
   "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (GNTD)
   Paul writes to the Thessalonians and tells them WHEN they should pray. And the answer's pretty simple: always.
   "Pray at all times... "
3. Matthew 6:5-8 (GNTD)
   Jesus starts instructing his disciples about how to pray by telling them what NOT to do. His underlying message is that prayer shouldn’t be about impressing other people. It should be about spending meaningful time with God.
   “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."
   “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him."
4. Matthew 6:9-13 (GNTD)
   Although these verses are a continuation of the passage above, it deserves its own space. Here, Jesus models prayer for his disciples, and this prayer has guided the church ever since.
   "This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.’"