How To Pray

How to Pray (According to Jesus)

Short answer: Prayer is not a performance or a formula—it’s a living relationship with the Father through Jesus. Jesus teaches us to pray privately and sincerely, in faith, in alignment with God’s will, with a forgiving heart, and with persistence. The apostles He trained practiced the same: they abided, interceded for others, and trusted God to move “mountains.”


To understand the relationship between prayer and faith please see our YouTube video “Faith That Jesus Honors: From Little Faith to Power“

1) The Heart of Prayer: Relationship, Not Ritual

  • To whom are we praying? “Our Father” (Matt 6:9). Jesus starts with intimacy and trust, not technique.
  • How should we posture our hearts? Reverence (“hallowed be Your Name”), surrender (“Your will be done”), daily dependence (“Give us this day…”), repentance/forgiveness, and spiritual vigilance (“Deliver us from evil”). (Matt 6:9–13)
  • Where does power in prayer come from? Abiding. Jesus said: “Abide in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)
  • How did Jesus model prayer? He often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16), rose very early to pray (Mark 1:35), and listened for the Father’s direction (John 5:19; 11:41–42).

Prayer is relational, not ritual (34:52)

2) Jesus’ Framework: The Lord’s Prayer (as a Daily Pattern)

Use it as a framework (not a mere recitation):

  1. Father-focused intimacy: Our Father in heaven
  2. Worship: Hallowed be Your Name
  3. Surrendered alignment: Your kingdom come, Your will be done
  4. Daily trust: Give us this day our daily bread
  5. Confession & reconciliation: Forgive us… as we forgive (cf. Matt 6:14–15)
  6. Spiritual warfare & protection: Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil

See “Prayer According to Jesus” section (34:52)

3) Praying with “Mustard-Seed” Faith (What Jesus Meant)

Context: After the disciples failed to free a boy from a violent spirit (Matt 17:14–20; Mark 9:14–29), Jesus said their failure was due to “little faith” and added “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

  • “Little faith” (Greek oligopistia) isn’t about quantity but about type. The original Greek word Jesus used actually meant fragile, inconsistent trust that collapses under pressure.
  • Mustard-seed faith is small but alive and growing—rooted in God, growing through abiding prayer, and therefore able to move “mountains,” i.e., entrenched resistance to God’s will (cf. Zech 4:6–7; Mark 11:22–25).
  • Why did Jesus say prayer? Because real authority flows from relationship, not technique. Jesus links deep breakthroughs to a life of prayer, not just a moment of praying (Mark 9:29; John 15:4–7).

The context: failed exorcism (02:06) · Mustard-seed faith (09:38) · Why mountains move (15:16)

4) How Jesus Taught Us to Pray (Practices & Posture)

Private & sincere: Pray to be seen by the Father, not by people (Matt 6:5–6). Avoid vain repetition/babbling—the Father already knows your needs (Matt 6:7–8).

Forgive as you pray: Forgive others when you pray, so your Father will forgive you (Mark 11:25; Matt 6:14–15).

Align with the Father’s will: Pray for the kingdom and God’s will (Matt 6:10); ask in Jesus’ name—that is, in His character and mission (John 14:13–14; 15:7; 16:23–24).

Persist with “shameless audacity”: Ask–seek–knock (Luke 11:5–13); cry out day and night (Luke 18:1–8). Persistence forms relationship and aligns our hearts.

Watch & pray against temptation: “Watch and pray” lest you enter into temptation (Mark 14:38).

Fasting (as Jesus taught): When you fast, do it unto the Father, not for show (Matt 6:16–18). In the demonized-boy account, prayer is the explicit basis for authority (some manuscripts add “and fasting” in Mark 9:29, but the thrust is life in prayer).

Why some battles require prayer (29:10) · Biblical examples of prayer-fueled authority (30:45) · More examples (33:00)

5) How the Apostles Practiced Prayer (Acts & the Twelve)

  • Constant prayer: The disciples were devoting themselves to prayer together (Acts 1:14).
  • A praying community: They continued in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayers (Acts 2:42).
  • Set rhythms: Peter and John went to the temple at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1).
  • Bold intercession: When threatened, the church lifted their voices; the place was shaken and they were filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:24–31).
  • Interceding for the imprisoned: The church earnestly prayed for Peter (Acts 12:5).

From the Twelve’s writings:

  • John: Confidence in prayer comes from asking according to His will (1 John 5:14–15).
  • Peter: Cast your cares on Him—He cares for you (1 Pet 5:7).
  • James (the Lord’s brother): Prayer is powerful and effective; elders pray over the sick; confess and forgive (Jas 5:14–18).

Prayer according to Jesus: relational, not ritual (34:52)

6) A Simple Daily Rhythm You Can Start Today

Morning (Secret Place – Matt 6:6)

  • Worship: “Father, Your Name be honored.”
  • Surrender: “Your kingdom come in my thoughts, words, work.”
  • Depend: “Provide what I need for today.”
  • Confess/Forgive: Name sins; release anyone who wronged you.
  • Commit: “Lead me away from temptation; deliver me from evil.”

Abide Throughout the Day (John 15:4–7). This is your ongoing personal relationship that you develop with Jesus that leads to a faith that has authority and commands power to do the Father’s will – cast out demons, heal the sick, and break spiritual strongholds. Speak to Him throughout the day and listen, not just with your ears, but with your heart. Pay attention to your experiences because He speaks into circumstances. Absolutely nothing is happenstance or coincidence. Jesus said even the hairs on your head are numbered. And we know God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. He will speak to you through your life, and this is one way we are able to hear and follow Him. The other ways we hear Him are through His spirit that dwells within us and His words – what Jesus actually said and commanded from the Father.

John 15:4–7 (NIV) records Jesus’ words:
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
This passage emphasizes the importance of remaining connected to Jesus for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

  • Short “breath prayers”: “Father, guide me.” “Jesus, what do You want here?”
  • Intercede when the Spirit brings someone to mind—keep a simple list.

Evening (Review & Rest)

  • Thank God for signs of grace; confess misses; entrust cares to Him (1 Pet 5:7).

Relational prayer focus (34:52)

7) Praying Mountains Down for Others (Intercession)

  • What is a “mountain”? Not geography, but immovable obstacles—spiritual bondage, deception, hardened hearts, entrenched patterns that resist God’s will (cf. Zech 4:6–7; Isa 40:4; Mark 11:22–25).
  • How do they move? By mustard-seed faith—a small but living trust rooted in a life of prayer and obedience (Matt 17:20; Mark 9:29).
  • Examples: Friends carried the paralyzed man to Jesus and He saw their faith (Mark 2:1–12). Jesus interceded for Peter before the failure (Luke 22:31–32).
  • Practice: Name the obstacle; ask how to pray; persist; forgive; obey any prompting (reconcile, serve, speak truth in love).

Praying mountains down for others (42:00)

8) A Sample Prayer (Use Your Own Words)

Father, I honor Your Name. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in me and through me today.
Give me what I truly need; search my heart; forgive my sins as I forgive those who’ve wronged me.
Lead me away from temptation; deliver me from the evil one.
I trust You, and I’m listening—show me whom to bless, what to say, and how to obey You today.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

See conclusion (47:05)

9) Common Questions

Do I need special words? No. Jesus warns against empty phrases (Matt 6:7–8). Speak to your Father simply and honestly.

What if I don’t feel anything? Keep abiding and persisting (Luke 11; 18). Jesus prayed regularly regardless of feelings (Luke 5:16).

Why does forgiveness matter so much? Jesus connects prayer and forgiveness (Mark 11:25; Matt 6:14–15). Bitterness blocks fellowship; forgiveness opens the channel.

Is God really listening? Jesus assures us the Father knows what we need and gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Matt 6:8; Luke 11:13). John teaches that when we ask according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14–15).

Watch the Full Teaching

Channel: The Kingdom Jesus Taught — “Faith That Moves Mountains / Mustard-Seed Faith & Prayer”
Full video with chapters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtChZAWvUvk&t=0s

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