How to Pray Honestly from the Heart

Anchor of the Week

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." – Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)

This Week’s Message

I’ll be honest, no one ever really taught me how to pray. For the longest time (still a struggle), I thought prayer had to sound really structured and polished, almost like I was making a presentation to God. I felt like He wouldn’t hear me unless I said everything just right.

So this week I wanted to write about this topic, not only because I feel like many struggle with this as well, but because I came across something that completely shifted my perspective.

It said we should talk to God like we talk to a friend. It reminded me of this simple truth: Children don’t need dissertations on God’s goodness; they simply believe He loves them. They don’t require proof of prayer’s power; they talk to God about their goldfish and expect Him to listen. This uncomplicated faith actually unlocks the deepest mysteries of God’s Kingdom.

You Can Read Their Full Article👉 Here (it’s a great newsletter)

That really hit home for me. Because the truth is, God already knows my voice. He knows exactly how I talk, how I think, how I process things. So why would my Creator ever want me to approach Him in a way that wasn’t authentically me?

Prayer isn’t about some perfected, polished, performance; it’s about relationship. It’s the personal, quiet conversation that deepens our connection with God. It’s that honest exchange that draws us closer to His heart.

This week I don’t have a new meditation but a simple 👉 Prayer with Jesus. Take five minutes today to set your intentions and simply talk to Him just like you would with a friend who loves you deeply. I recorded this a long time ago and always felt it wasn’t exactly perfect, but after listening to it a few more times, I realize now that it was intended to be that way…which is perfect.

Bible Story: Hannah’s Honest Prayer

In 1 Samuel 1, we meet Hannah, a woman whose heart ached with longing. She couldn’t have children and was deeply burdened by sorrow. When she went to the temple, she didn’t recite perfect words or polished phrases, she poured out her heart before God. Her prayer was raw and full of emotion, so much so that the priest thought she was drunk. But God saw her sincerity and heard her cry.

In time, Hannah gave birth to Samuel, one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history. But more important than the outcome is what her story teaches us: God responds to authenticity. He responds to our honest prayers, those poured out through tears and those offered in silence. God wants us to be real, our authentic selves and we can honor God by expressing this through prayer.

Reflections: Prayer That Flows from the Heart

Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
This verse reminds us that prayer is not about perfection, it’s about presence. God meets us in the quiet, unseen spaces where our words may falter but our hearts are open. Honest prayer begins when we step away from the noise, silence the expectations, and speak to Him as we are. It’s in those raw and private moments that our faith deepens, and His peace finds us.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
This verse is a gentle reminder that prayer is a rhythm. It’s the steady heartbeat of our relationship with God. When life feels uncertain or heavy, we return to prayer, not as a last resort, but as our first response. Faithful prayer doesn’t mean always having the right words; it means showing up again and again and again, trusting that God hears even the quiet cries of our spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
“Pray continually.”
This verse captures the essence of what it means to walk with God daily. Prayer isn’t limited to the moments we bow our heads or before we eat our meals, it’s a continual conversation, woven through every breath we take and thought we think. Honest prayer doesn’t need formality; it needs sincerity. As we talk to God throughout our day, about our fears, our gratitude, our decisions, our dreams, we are inviting Him into every detail of our lives.

Faith-Building Reads on Prayer

• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller
  👉 Get it on Amazon

• How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig
  👉 Get it on Amazon

• Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney
  👉 Get it on Amazon

• Anchored in the Storm by Amber Potter: A 30-Day Devotional (includes 30 heartfelt prayers to strengthen your walk with God)
  👉 Get it on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, but I only recommend books that truly inspire faith and draw you closer to God.

In Closing

No prayer is too short, too long, too deep, or too simple. What matters most isn’t how polished our words sound, it’s that they come from our heart. Every time we pray, we’re not showing up for our Emmy winning performance; we’re connecting with God. And in that connection, we’re building something so intensely sacred—a relationship with our Father, our Creator —the One who always listens, loves, and responds. The One who already knows us completely.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing us just as we are. Teach us to pray with genuine honesty, to come to You without fear or formality. Help us remember that You long for our presence more than our perfection. May every word we speak draw us closer to You, and may our hearts remain open to the quiet whispers of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It’s my prayer that this week’s message spoke to your heart. If it did, I’d love for you to share it with someone who could use a little Christian encouragement today. 👇

Have a blessed week ahead, I’ll see you here next Sunday ~ Amber ❤️🙏🏻