How to Pray at Home

While some people go to cafes, parks, and other places to pray and spend time with God, some still prefer to pray in the confines of their homes. There is nothing wrong with praying at home. It could even be more practical for some because you don’t spend anything when you are at home, compared to praying at a café, where you’ll need to order something so you can stay there. 

Praying at home is similar to any other way you pray to God. The critical thing to remember here is that you are talking to God. You are worshipping Him, adoring Him, thanking Him, asking Him for help, sharing with Him the things that have happened, etc. Just as you pray those prayers in other places, you can also pray them while you are at home.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

[Philippians 4:6]

Praying while at home is not necessarily done only during the specific time you’ve set aside to do your devotion to God. You can pray to God while at home aside from your devotion time with Him. You can pray and talk to God while washing the dishes, polishing some furniture, resting on the couch, etc. Prayer is when we spend time with God, with Whom we have a relationship. If we can talk to our family members at any time at home, surely we can do the same with God.

How do you start a prayer at home?

Knowing that prayer is our communication with God, Who is our heavenly Father, changes our perspective on prayer. Because of what Christ has done on the cross, those who repent and believe can receive adoption as God’s children. Believers are reconciled to God and can now freely approach God’s throne of grace. Because of that, we can pursue intimacy with God and pray to Him intimately.

Starting a prayer at home is just like starting any prayer. How you pray when praying in other places is the same as when you’re praying at home. Jesus taught us how to pray, and you can apply what He taught when praying, no matter where you pray. 

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[Matthew 6:9-10]

You can start your prayer by worshipping God for Who He is and praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, just as Jesus taught us. Worshipping God for Who He is at the beginning of the prayer elevates God whenever we ask Him for help regarding our problems, and it also ascribes all the glory to Him if we are praying prayers of thanksgiving.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

[Psalm 28:7]

[Psalm 29]

Here is an example of how you can pray at home:

Heavenly Father, You are the God Who looks after us and sees everything. It is Your grace and mercy that have been sustaining us. I pray for my home, for Your will to be done, and that we shall always walk in holiness and serve You. I pray for today; that it will be a productive day and that I will be able to accomplish what I need to accomplish. Give me the strength and wisdom that I need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What do you say when you pray?

There are so many things that you can pray to God, just as there are many different kinds of prayers. You can thank God in your prayers for all the grace and mercy that He has shown you, you can pour out your heart to Him and be honest with Him if you are feeling frustrated, you can ask Him for things and believe He will provide, and you can intercede and pray for others, pray for the healing of someone, and much more. Reading the Bible will show you the many different prayers you can pray to God.

When you pray to God, say what you want to say with Him in prayer. Remember that God is your heavenly Father. You can be honest with Him. If there is a specific thing you are hoping for, talk to God about it. If someone has hurt your feelings during the day, you can come to God about it and pour out your heart. While God is someone we should respect and revere, He is also our heavenly Father, Who is gentle.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

[Romans 8:15]

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

[Acts 13:2-3]

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

[Ephesians 6:18]

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

[1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men

[1 Timothy 2:1]

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

[James 5:15]

What is a good prayer to say before bed? 

Indeed, praying before bed is one of the times you can pray at home. There is no better way to end your day than talking to your heavenly Father about the day that you’ve had. Just as you share your day with your family member(s) or friends, you also share with God about it.

A good prayer to say before bed is a prayer of thanksgiving, where you explicitly thank God for the day that has occurred. 

Even if it is just an ordinary day and nothing significant has happened, there are still many things that you should thank God for. One is that you could go to work, school, or your destination safely and return home safely. The food you eat is another gratitude because it is God’s provision and sustenance for you. Even the fact that you were able to wake up for the day is already something to thank God for because of His mercy. Indeed, there is always something that we can thank God for.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

[Psalm 136:26]

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

[Ephesians 5:20]

Here is an example of a thanksgiving prayer before bed:

Heavenly Father, You are the God Who always sustains me and provides for me. Thank You for all the strength and wisdom You have given me at work. Thank You also for keeping me safe from any harm or accident while going to work and coming home. Thank You because You are always with me, and You are the One Who looks after me. Open my eyes to everything You have been doing for me, and may my heart always be grateful. Thank You for today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying to God is something that we do out of delight. The motivation for prayer is that we love God. While, indeed, the Bible commands us to pray, love makes those commandments something we do out of delight rather than seeing them as burdensome. Praying to God is something we are excited to do.