Teachings

How to Pray When You Don’t Know Where to Start

This teaching was originally written for my son, as I began to show him what it looks like to talk to God consistently. But as time has passed, I’ve come to see how much value it holds for the wider church community. So I’m sharing it with you—praying it blesses you and your community with a simple, Spirit-led way of drawing near to God in prayer.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the start of any meaningful prayer—it acknowledges God’s sovereignty by honouring and magnifying Him.

We do this by:

Thanking God for answered prayers.
Thanking Him for blessings we didn’t earn but He freely gives (e.g., good health, faithful friends, strength to endure).
Thanking Him in advance for going ahead of us concerning the requests we bring.
Worshipping Him—because He is worthy.

Bringing Your Requests Before God

A heart shaped by thanksgiving directs your prayers with clarity. As we worship, the Holy Spirit often reveals what truly matters—what we should focus on and what we can release.

Sometimes, worship becomes the prayer itself—through continued thanksgiving or by simply sitting with His Word.

To bring your requests to God effectively:

Seek the Holy Spirit’s direction on how to lift your prayer to God. As you pray the new perspective will become obvious and it will change how you make the requests to God
Focus in on the core pillars of that prayer — don’t gloss over the heart behind it.
Remain in that place of supplication before moving on — this is how you begin to pray in the spirit.

Rest in God

Once you’ve lifted your requests and lingered in His presence, the final movement is rest.

But rest isn’t passive—it’s delighting in God and trusting that He is already at work.

Let your time in prayer shape the pace and purpose of what comes next.

Carry that heart posture into your next activity—

and if needed, let it change what that activity is.

Feast on the life He freely gives, and learn to move from rest, not striving.

Conclusion

This is a simple framework for learning how to pray.

It’s not about performance—it’s about relationship.

Whether you’re new to prayer or returning to it, I pray this guide helps you draw near to God with confidence and trust.

Start Here: Why We’re Chasing the Wonder

Have you ever felt like you were doing all the “right” things—going to church, reading your Bible, attending a small group—but something was still missing? Like you were surrounded by faith—but starving for substance? That’s where Chasing the Wonder began. My name is Chike, and I

Solitude as a Place of Encounter

As a child, I remember running into the kitchen just to be near my mom. She’d be standing at the stove, quietly preparing supper or stirring a pot. I wouldn’t do anything special or particularly helpful; I’d simply sit there, watching. Amid the clinking utensils, the hum

It is Possible

It is possible to please God. It is possible to offer a difficult sacrifice. It is possible to love Jesus with all your heart, soul, and mind. It is possible to live as the servant of all— and be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is possible to do

Invitations

You are cordially invited! Do you remember receiving an invitation as a child? Perhaps it was a friend’s birthday party—the one you practically counted down to all year. That small card carried a thrill of excitement, the quiet honour of being chosen, and a deep sense of belonging.