How to Pray Like Jesus: 5 Ways + Free Prayer Guide (PDF)

Many of us grew up thinking that prayer was about finding the right words and saying them perfectly, as if God required a formal speech to listen to us. However, when we examine how Jesus prayed, we see something quite different. His prayers weren’t limited by rituals or traditions; they came straight from the heart of a Son to His Father. If you are like the disciples and are wondering how to pray like Jesus, keep reading. We also have a free scripture guide you can download at the end.

1. How to Pray like Jesus— Look at How Jesus actually prayed

Prayer can feel intimidating. It’s a beautiful and almost overwhelming thought—that we’re speaking to the Creator of everything, and yet He is the one who invites us to come close and talk with Him.

At its core, prayer was never meant to be about performance. God genuinely desires a relationship with you. So when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He didn’t begin with a method or a formula. He began with a name: Father (Matthew 6:9).

When Jesus addressed God as Father, He revealed a depth of closeness that challenged the religious norms of His time. While Scripture had long spoken of God as a Father to His people, Jesus modeled a personal, intimate relationship with God—and invited His followers into that same kind of closeness.

That single word changes everything. You aren’t approaching a distant or demanding deity who needs to be persuaded. You’re coming to a Father who already loves you, who welcomes you, and who isn’t irritated by your presence. Jesus made it clear that prayer isn’t about impressing others or piling up empty words—it’s about going somewhere quiet and simply being honest with God.

The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just a script to memorize; it’s a picture of relationship. It shows us a simple pattern—honoring God for who He is, trusting Him with our daily needs, receiving forgiveness while extending it to others, and leaning on Him for guidance along the way.

At the end of the day, prayer is less about sounding spiritual and much more about staying connected—to a Father who already knows you and loves you deeply.

2. He made time for it—consistent time

Jesus was busy. Crowds everywhere. People needing healing. Disciples asking questions. Religious leaders challenging Him.

And yet.

Mark 1:35 says He got up very early in the morning, went to a solitary place, and prayed. Luke 5:16 says He often withdrew to lonely places to pray. This wasn’t occasional or only when He felt inspired. It was consistent.

Before He chose the twelve disciples, He prayed all night (Luke 6:12-13). Before major moments in His ministry, He prayed (Luke 9:18, 28-29).

He didn’t do this because God required it as some kind of transaction. He did it because prayer was how He stayed connected to the Father—and that connection sustained everything else.

If you’re trying to figure out where to start: pick one moment in your day. Doesn’t have to be long. Just consistent. Just you and God.

3. How to Pray Like Jesus— He didn’t hide what He was feeling

Jesus didn’t sanitize His prayers. He didn’t wait until He felt “spiritual” or “composed” to talk to the Father.

In Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38), He told the Father His soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow.” He didn’t offer a polite version of His pain; He brought the raw weight of His emotion into the light. He asked—three times—if there was any other way, if the cup of suffering could pass from Him.

This shows us that God doesn’t want the edited version of you; He wants the truth. We see this contrast in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18). The Pharisee prayed a polished, self-congratulatory script, but the tax collector—unable to even look up—simply beat his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Jesus says the honest man went home justified. You don’t have to clean up your heart or your words before you come to God.

4. Surrender was at the center

How to pray like Jesus:

“Not my will, but Yours be done.”

-Luke 22:42

That line from Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) might be the most important thing Jesus modeled about prayer. Prayer isn’t about getting God to agree with your plan. It’s about aligning your heart with His.

Jesus practiced this kind of trust throughout His life. He taught His disciples to ask, seek, knock—not because God is withholding good things, but because He’s a good Father who gives generously (Matthew 7:7-11). He talked about faith-filled prayer that trusts God (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-25).

But all of it assumes surrender. Trusting that God’s will is good, even when it doesn’t feel good.

Surrender isn’t giving up. It’s releasing control because you trust the One who holds everything.

5. He prayed for other people

Jesus’ prayers weren’t just about His own relationship with the Father.

He prayed for Peter specifically—that his faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:32). He gave thanks publicly for what the Father was doing (Matthew 11:25-26; John 6:11). In John 17, He prayed this extended, intimate prayer for His disciples and for everyone who would believe in Him later. That includes you.

Even on the cross, He prayed for the people killing Him: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

And His last words were a prayer: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Intercession—praying for others—wasn’t an add-on. It was central to how Jesus loved people.

Bring the people you care about before God. Say their names. Ask for what they need.

What this comes down to

Jesus didn’t pray to earn the Father’s love or approval. He already had that. He prayed because He lived in constant relationship with the Father, and prayer was the language of that relationship.

And He invites you into the same thing.

Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real.

If you really want to know how to pray like Jesus, watch how Jesus prayed. Follow His lead. Start with “Father.” Be honest. Make space for it. Surrender your will. Pray for others.

That’s how you pray like Jesus.

Want to go deeper into How to Pray Like Jesus? We’ve created a companion study guide with every place Jesus teaches about prayer in the Gospels, every recorded prayer of His, and the key themes that emerge. It’s designed for personal reflection or group discussion—free to download and use however it helps you most.

A parting note: We’d be remiss if we didn’t share the one tool we made years ago that has helped countless women stay consistent in prayer: our Prayer Journals and Binders.

They have been our best-sellers since 2018 for a reason—they take the guesswork out of your quiet time and help you stay focused on what matters most.

See why they’re our best-sellers here: Prayer Journals.