What is prayer? Why do we pray?
When you think of prayer, maybe you picture someone kneeling, a pastor praying over the church, or your grandpa thanking God before dinner. Whatever image comes to mind, we’re diving into what prayer really is — and why it matters.
What Is Prayer?
Imagine this: you’re getting coffee with a friend. You talk, listen, ask questions, share stories, and laugh together. That’s what prayer is like. It’s a conversation that builds relationships. Prayer gives you the opportunity to know God personally. Just like any friendship grows through conversation, your relationship with God deepens the more you talk with Him.
We were created to talk with God. From the very beginning, God designed humans to walk and communicate with Him. We were made for relationship. When we look at Adam—the first man—he was created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. That’s what we were made for. But when sin entered the world through disobedience, it separated us from that original design. Ever since, humanity has searched for something to fill that gap—but nothing can satisfy. Then Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth and took on the death we deserved so that we could walk with God once again. Through His death and resurrection, we’ve been restored to what we were always meant to do: live in relationship with our Creator. It’s part of our identity as sons and daughters—free from sin and fully connected to God.
Prayer is the privilege we have as sons and daughters of God—to talk with Him daily. You don’t have to be perfect or have a degree in theology to pray. You can talk to God just like you would a friend over coffee. One of the sweetest things about prayer is that it’s a two-way conversation. God doesn’t just want to hear your voice—He wants to speak to you too. Times of prayer can simply look like sitting quietly and listening for His voice over your life.
How Do You Pray?
Now that we understand what prayer is and why we pray, the next question is this: what does prayer actually look like in practice? How do we pray?
Prayer can look different every time. Sometimes you’re praying with a group, sometimes you’re alone. Sometimes you’re on a walk just talking with the Lord—and there are so many other ways too. But out of all the different ways to pray, there are four main types we like to focus on. We call it A.C.T.S.
- Adoration
- Confession
- Thanksgiving
- Supplication
All four of these are important! As we dive into the question, “Why is prayer important?” We see that prayer realigns us with our original design—as sons and daughters created for relationship with God.
The first form of prayer is Adoration. This kind of prayer is worship—it’s telling God who He is and honoring His faithfulness, steadfast love, mercy, and character. You see this all throughout the book of Psalms. David writes songs and prayers of adoration, lifting up praise to God for who He is (see Psalm 145 and 97). Adoration is powerful because it reminds us of who God is and that He’s worthy of everything we do. It shifts our focus off ourselves and our circumstances, humbles our hearts, and leads us to give Him all the praise He deserves.
The second form of prayer is Confession. Confession is repentance. God isn’t ashamed of you or what you’ve done—He actually invites you to be real and honest with Him. When you recognize sin in your life and feel conviction, that’s not condemnation—it’s God calling you closer, inviting you to turn back to Him. We see this kind of prayer in Psalm 51, where David repents and receives forgiveness. Confession is powerful because it restores intimacy with Jesus, bringing your heart back into alignment with God and keeping you open and right before Him.
The next form of prayer is Thanksgiving. God has done so much for us! Giving thanks to the Lord pulls us out of complaining and reminds us of His goodness. Thankfulness goes hand in hand with adoration. Psalm 100:4 says to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” Gratitude shifts our perspective—it keeps our hearts soft and focused on who He is, not just on what we need. Thanksgiving matters because it keeps us from treating God like a genie in prayer and helps us approach Him with genuine love and gratitude.
The last form of prayer is Supplication. This is the type of prayer most people are familiar with—it’s bringing your requests before God, whether for yourself or for others. This is where you pray for your friends, your family, the nations, and so much more. What’s powerful about supplication is that it’s not just about asking for things—it’s about partnering with God’s heart. As you pray, He’ll begin to share what’s on His heart with you. Prayers of supplication grow your love for people and make your own requests known to God. He’s a good Father who loves to give good gifts—all you have to do is ask (Matthew 7:11).
Prayer is essential in your relationship with God. It grows you, builds you, and shapes you into who He’s called you to be. Prayer is simply talking with your Father—the One who listens, responds, and loves being in conversation with you. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, it’s never too late to start talking with Him and learning to hear His voice. And you don’t have to do it alone! Find a community that will walk with you and help you grow in prayer. One of those places is YWAM Lancaster. Through our Discipleship Training School (DTS), you’ll get to know God deeply, discover His voice, and be equipped to live it out in the nations.
