Answer
In seeking the key to learning how to pray, we must value the word learn. Coincidentally, the key to prayer is the same as the key to discipleship. The word disciple literally means “learner,” and if you’re going to be a student of prayer, your posture requires two things: humility and a teacher. Prayer acquaints you with both.
To begin with, the key to learning anything involves admitting your limitations. That’s humility. If you are struggling with prayer, you are fundamentally losing the war against your own pride because, to pray, you have to acknowledge God’s greatness above your own. He’s your teacher. And where does God teach us? In His Word. The key to learning how to pray—discipleship—won’t happen if you tune in to the latest self-help guru, celebrity pastor, or elderly woman down the street; even though wise servants of Jesus can help you in prayer. God invented prayer, so He can teach you what it is and how to do it.
One of the ways God teaches all believers is by giving us an example. The Lord’s Prayer is the most famous example (Matthew 6:9–13). In reading the Lord’s Prayer, note two things: 1) What “keys to praying” do you observe in the text? 2) What don’t you see in Jesus’ prayer that you expected would be there? Once you answer those questions, you’re off to a great start in learning how to approach God in prayer.
Scripture also records many other prayers that can help provide the key to learning how to pray. For example, here are the references to all the prayers of Paul:
Romans 8:1–10; 10:1; 12:12; 15:5–6, 13, 30–33
1 Corinthians 1:4–9; 16:23
2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 2:14–16; 9:12–15; 13:7–9
Galatians 6:18
Ephesians 1:3–5, 15–23; 3:14–21; 6:19–20
Philippians 1:3–6, 9–11; 4:6–7, 23
Colossians 1:3–14; 4:2–4
1 Thessalonians 1:2–3, 13–16; 3:9–13; 5:23–24, 28
2 Thessalonians 1:3–5, 11–12; 2:16–17; 3:2–5–16
1 Timothy 1:12; 2:1–3
2 Timothy 1:3–7, 16–18; 4:22
Titus 3:15
Philemon 1:4–7, 25
As you read through Paul’s prayers, humble yourself before the Word of God. Let Paul’s prayers teach you. Write down your thoughts as you read, and you will have unlocked more tools in your prayer toolbox.1 Corinthians 1:4–9; 16:23
2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 2:14–16; 9:12–15; 13:7–9
Galatians 6:18
Ephesians 1:3–5, 15–23; 3:14–21; 6:19–20
Philippians 1:3–6, 9–11; 4:6–7, 23
Colossians 1:3–14; 4:2–4
1 Thessalonians 1:2–3, 13–16; 3:9–13; 5:23–24, 28
2 Thessalonians 1:3–5, 11–12; 2:16–17; 3:2–5–16
1 Timothy 1:12; 2:1–3
2 Timothy 1:3–7, 16–18; 4:22
Titus 3:15
Philemon 1:4–7, 25
And below are all the different “singing prayers” recorded in the Psalms. They are listed by genre:
• Laments
Singing prayers that express sorrow, questioning, and doubt and move you from protest to praise.
Community: Psalms 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79—80, 83, 85, 89—90, 94, 123, 126, 129.
Individual: Psalms 3, 4, 5, 7, 9—10, 13—14, 17, 22, 25—28, 31, 36, 39, 40:12–17, 41, 42–43, 52—57, 59, 61, 64, 70—71, 77, 86, 89, 120, 139, 141—142.
• Penitential
Singing prayers that move you away from concealing sin to confessing it.
Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.
• Imprecatory
Singing prayers that move you from fear to faith regarding your enemies.
Psalms 35, 69, 83, 88, 109, 137, 140.
• Thanksgiving (Todah) Psalms
Singing prayers that rejoice in God’s works and character over and above your own.
Community: Psalms 65, 67, 75, 107, 124, 136.
Individual: Psalms 18, 21, 30, 32, 34, 40:1–11, 66:13–20, 92, 108, 116, 118, 138.
• Salvation History
Singing prayers that remember God’s redemptive story, while simultaneously putting into perspective your own.
Psalms 8, 105—106, 135—136.
• Songs of Trust
Singing prayers that move you forward in faith.
Psalms 11, 16, 23, 27, 62—63, 91, 121, 125, 131.
• Hymns and Doxology
Singing prayers that help you emotionally respond to timeless truth instead of being swayed by timely circumstances.
Psalms 8, 19:1–6, 33, 66:1–12, 67, 95, 100, 103—104, 111—114, 117, 145—150.
• Liturgical Covenant & Temple Liturgies
Singing prayers that move you toward God-centered worship rather than man-centered.
Psalms 15, 24, 50, 68, 78, 81—82, 89, 95, 115, 132, 134.
• Royal (Kingly) Enthronement
Singing prayers that remind you of God’s sovereignty and reign amidst your glory and pain.
Psalms 2, 18, 20—21, 29, 45, 47, 72, 93, 95—99, 101, 110, 144.
• Songs of Zion (Kingdom)
Singing prayers that move you toward God’s Kingdom over and above the world’s kingdoms.
Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122.
• Wisdom and Torah Psalms
Singing prayers that help you remember the truth within the lying world.
Psalms 1, 19:7–14, 36—37, 49, 73, 112, 119, 127—128, 133.
Prayer’s purpose is to move you toward God’s character. Prayer is not meant to conform God to your will, wants, and desires; it is to move you to become more like Jesus. The above prayers can teach you God’s will, wants, and desires. If you’re humble before God as your teacher, He will lovingly instruct you to pray differently, desire different things, and to live in different ways.Singing prayers that express sorrow, questioning, and doubt and move you from protest to praise.
Community: Psalms 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79—80, 83, 85, 89—90, 94, 123, 126, 129.
Individual: Psalms 3, 4, 5, 7, 9—10, 13—14, 17, 22, 25—28, 31, 36, 39, 40:12–17, 41, 42–43, 52—57, 59, 61, 64, 70—71, 77, 86, 89, 120, 139, 141—142.
• Penitential
Singing prayers that move you away from concealing sin to confessing it.
Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.
• Imprecatory
Singing prayers that move you from fear to faith regarding your enemies.
Psalms 35, 69, 83, 88, 109, 137, 140.
• Thanksgiving (Todah) Psalms
Singing prayers that rejoice in God’s works and character over and above your own.
Community: Psalms 65, 67, 75, 107, 124, 136.
Individual: Psalms 18, 21, 30, 32, 34, 40:1–11, 66:13–20, 92, 108, 116, 118, 138.
• Salvation History
Singing prayers that remember God’s redemptive story, while simultaneously putting into perspective your own.
Psalms 8, 105—106, 135—136.
• Songs of Trust
Singing prayers that move you forward in faith.
Psalms 11, 16, 23, 27, 62—63, 91, 121, 125, 131.
• Hymns and Doxology
Singing prayers that help you emotionally respond to timeless truth instead of being swayed by timely circumstances.
Psalms 8, 19:1–6, 33, 66:1–12, 67, 95, 100, 103—104, 111—114, 117, 145—150.
• Liturgical Covenant & Temple Liturgies
Singing prayers that move you toward God-centered worship rather than man-centered.
Psalms 15, 24, 50, 68, 78, 81—82, 89, 95, 115, 132, 134.
• Royal (Kingly) Enthronement
Singing prayers that remind you of God’s sovereignty and reign amidst your glory and pain.
Psalms 2, 18, 20—21, 29, 45, 47, 72, 93, 95—99, 101, 110, 144.
• Songs of Zion (Kingdom)
Singing prayers that move you toward God’s Kingdom over and above the world’s kingdoms.
Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122.
• Wisdom and Torah Psalms
Singing prayers that help you remember the truth within the lying world.
Psalms 1, 19:7–14, 36—37, 49, 73, 112, 119, 127—128, 133.
