How to Talk to God in Prayer
Apr 13, 2026Summary
Have you ever sat down to pray and suddenly felt a wave of spiritual performance anxiety, wondering if you are doing it right? In this episode of the Arise, Women of God podcast, titled How to Talk to God in Prayer, we tackle the pressure of “perfect” prayers. Host Tamara K. Anderson and Christian counselor Wendi Christensen break down the beautiful simplicity of divine communication, proving that there is no secret sequence of words required to reach Heaven.
We explore the simple four-step pattern Jesus gave us in Matthew Chapter 6 (Address God, Thank Him, Ask, and Close), which serves as a wonderful starting point for building your confidence. But we also discuss why Peter’s desperate, three-word prayer, "Lord, save me," is just as powerful and complete when you feel like you are sinking. Whether you are a Christian woman looking to overcome the anxiety of checking boxes or simply wanting to deepen your daily connection with your Heavenly Father, this episode will help you move from a formal routine to a real, bonding relationship. Tune in to learn why “getting it close” is just as effective as “getting it right,” and discover Tamara's favorite “faith hack” for mature prayer—bringing a pen and paper to every conversation with God.
Episode Takeaways
- The Four-Step Mechanics: Jesus provided a simple pattern in Matthew 6: Address God, Thank Him, Ask, and Close. This is a foundational tool to build confidence, not a strict checklist to induce anxiety.
- The Power of Three Words: When life is crashing down, God looks at the heart, not the mechanics. Peter’s simple cry, "Lord, save me," is proof that a desperate, short prayer is completely effective.
- Prayer is a Progression: Your conversations with God will evolve over time. Just like building a friendship, the more open and raw you become, the stronger the bond will be.
- The Pen and Paper Hack: As your faith grows, start expecting an answer. Praying with a piece of paper in front of you is an act of faith, readying you to catch the thoughts and to-do lists He sends your way.
Resources
If you're ready to move from checking boxes to truly hearing His response, download our free bundle! Get the Roadmap to Revelation (6 steps to hearing God in your daily life) PDF, along with the Receiving Light and Revelation audio meditation by Wendi. Download the Bundle Here: https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/pl/2148756546
Reflection Questions
- Do you ever suffer from "spiritual performance anxiety" when you pray?
- Have you ever felt like you only had the strength for a three-word prayer like Peter's? How did God meet you in that moment?
- How have your prayers evolved over the last five or ten years? What might happen if you started bringing a pen and paper to your prayers?
Host & Guest
Tamara K. Anderson @tamarakanderson
Wendi Christensen @wendichristensencounseling
Transcript
Tamara K. Anderson
00:00:00.320 - 00:02:05.980
Have you ever sat down to pray and suddenly felt a wave of anxiety wondering if you were doing it right? Maybe you're worried that there's a secret sequence of words or a specific posture required to make your prayers effective?
Today we're answering the question how to Talk to God in Prayer and by the end of today's episode, you will have a simple four step pattern for getting started again. But you'll also understand why a desperate three word prayer can be just as powerful as a formal petition.
We're going to help you solve spiritual performance anxiety by moving from checking boxes to building a real relationship and bond with your heavenly Father so that you can cast off getting it right and realize that getting it close is just as effective. Stay tuned. Ordinary Women Extraordinary Faith When God calls, we say yes.
The Arise Women of God Podcast hello and welcome to another episode of the Arise Women of God Podcast. I'm your host Tamara K. Andersen, and joining me today is the absolutely amazing Wendi Christensen.
She happens to be my co founder of Women warriors of Light and a wonderful Christian counselor. And today we're exploring the beautiful simplicity of divine communication.
First, we're going to break down the master pattern found in Matthew Chapter six, the simple mechanics that Jesus Christ gave us to set us up for success in prayer.
Second, we're going to look at the Peter Principle and why his simple prayer Lord save me is perfect and complete for those moments when you feel you are sinking. And finally, I'll share my finger faith hack for mature prayer and why I always bring a pen and a piece of paper to my conversations with God.
But let's kick it off by having Wendi share with us this beautiful pattern of prayer outlined for us by the Savior. Is there a right way that makes prayer more effective?
Wendi Christensen
00:02:06.140 - 00:04:14.990
Christ actually set a pattern for us. I think sometimes though, we have to not think of I have to pray right in order to be heard or to get an answer.
But there is a way that will help me to have a pattern for praying and I love in the Scriptures we call it the Lord's Prayer and it's found of course in Matthew 6, verses 9 through 13. Should be very familiar to most of us as Christians. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. So he starts off in the prayer, addressing him. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
So it's easy when we're starting a prayer to address him and we can say, heavenly Father, Our Father in heaven, God. Just addressing him to let him know, hey, I'm speaking to you, right? And then the second thing that Christ does is he thanks him.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So he's. He's gratefully thanking him for everything that's in his kingdom that's here.
And then the third thing is we ask him and he's like, give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us, lead us not into temptation. And then he simply closes. Now we close in Jesus name.
He just closed, but he's closing, giving power to the Father.
And I feel like when I close a prayer in Jesus name, Jesus is advocating for me and pleading on my behalf to Heavenly Father for the prayer that I've just uttered. So pretty simple, not really complicated. We address God, we thank him for the things we're grateful for, we ask for the things that we're needing.
And then we close in Jesus name, simple mechanics.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:04:15.550 - 00:06:10.880
It's a simple starting point to give us confidence. But life isn't always orderly. There are times when the waves feel like they're crashing over our head and we don't have time for a formal sequence.
In those moments, God is looking for the heart of a prayer, not the mechanics. I love another example of a prayer, even shorter than that one in the New Testament, where Peter has been invited by Jesus to walk on the water.
You know, he's like, lord, bid me come to you. He steps out onto the water, he starts walking on the water towards the Savior, and all of a sudden he gets nervous.
He looks around at the waves and sees the wind blowing, and he starts being fearful. He looks away from the Savior and starts sinking.
And there's a short prayer in there that I think we often miss, and it's three words long, and it says, lord, save me. That was the prayer, that was all he said.
And I think it speaks to those moments when we too, feel like we are sinking and drowning, and all we have strength to utter is lord, save me.
I think talking to God in prayer has more to do with where we are coming from, a place of begging for mercy and humility more than it has to do with saying things and checking boxes to do things in the right order. Right? There's a time for those prayers, and there's a time when this is all I'VE got three words. He hears the heart.
But as you grow in that relationship, your prayers will naturally evolve. Wendi is now going to share how.
Although we start with the mechanics and basics of prayer, when we're children, the goal is to move into that deep personal bond.
Wendi Christensen
00:06:11.600 - 00:07:31.010
The mechanics are there because we do need to have a place to start.
I remember when my kids were little, I would teach them how to pray, or if I. I've taught people who have never prayed before, and they don't know where to start. And so I love having those mechanics for a place to start, to simplify it.
And then once you have the basics, then you can make it whatever you need it to be. But the mechanics are there for a purpose and a reason to start.
I remember teaching my little girl, my oldest daughter, you know, when she was little, this is how we pray. This is what we do. This. You know, we asked, we talked to Heavenly Father, and we thank him for the things in our day.
And then we get to ask him for things that we might need or for others that we're concerned or worried about. Then we end it in the name of Jesus Christ. I mean, it was really simple, but yet it was really powerful.
And what it's done for her is it's taught her how to pray and now have her own personal relationship with God. But we had to start somewhere.
So I think the mechanics are really important because it gives you an opportunity to start somewhere and to figure out, how do I start this prayer thing and this relationship thing, so it can be a simple yet beautiful thing to set you up for success in prayer for the rest of your life.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:07:31.570 - 00:10:15.290
It's a progression. My prayers today look very different than they did 50 years ago.
One of my biggest shifts was realizing that when I ask a question, I should probably be ready to catch the answer. It's just going to grow a little bit at a time. Just like talking to a new friend. Your relationship is going to progress one conversation at a time.
And the more raw and open you get, and the more raw and open they get, the closer you get and you bond, start bonding over things. The same thing can be said of God, right?
That that relationship is getting stronger and stronger the more we talk and commune and communicate with another. My prayers when I was a little girl are very different from the prayers I have now.
And I often pray now with a piece of paper in front of me so that when I ask a question or am thinking about someone and a thought pops into my head, I write it down immediately because I know he's going to answer me. And so part of my act of faith is praying with a piece of paper in front of me like, okay, I'm expecting some kind of answer now.
You know, if you tell me to do it, I'll write it down in my planner on my to do list and I'll get it done anyway. So it's, it's a progression. And you're not going to jump from year one to year 50 in one year.
You know, I, I've had to grow little by little, just like anybody would. So, my friend, whether you're offering a formal prayer of gratitude or a three word cry for help, your heavenly Father is listening.
You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be present and trying. If you're ready to move from checking boxes to truly hearing his response and communing with him, we have a great tool for you.
You can download our Roadmap to Revelation 6 steps to hearing God in your daily life. This PDF is free, along with an audio meditation by Wende to help you prepare to receive light and revelation.
And that bundle is available by clicking the link below.
In our download, we talk about starting where you are, learning to ask questions about how God speaks to you, moving line upon line and being patient with yourself. So go grab that free downloadable bundle today. So my friends, we conclude with the same question we started with. How do you talk to God in prayer?
Whether you use a formal outline or a simple prayer, he is waiting there for for you. He knows you. He loves you. You are his child and he will teach you how to communicate with Him. Keep going. Don't give up.
And until next time, may you arise. Do it God's way, God strong.
