Prayer Is More Than Asking
When I first started praying, I thought I understood what it was.
Or at least… I thought I did.
To me, prayer was simple: you ask God for something.
That’s what most of us grow up thinking.
We pray when we need help.
We pray when things go wrong.
We pray when we want something to change.
Most of my prayers growing up—yes, even coming from a Buddhist background where praying exists too—revolved around what I wanted.
Because when life is going well… we don’t always think about God.
We tend to turn to Him when we need something.
But I’m starting to realize… that’s only a small part of it.
Prayer Is Not Just Asking—It’s Worship
What I’ve been learning is this:
Prayer is not just about asking… it’s about worship.
It’s about thanking God for what we already have, not just focusing on what we lack.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6
That perspective shifts everything.
Instead of constantly reaching for more,
prayer becomes a moment to recognize what’s already been given.
- The life we’re living
- The provision we overlook
- The blessings we didn’t even ask for
And slowly, prayer becomes less about requests…
and more about relationship.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8
Be Careful What We Ask For
Another realization that stayed with me:
Not every prayer should be a request.
And even when we do ask… we have to be careful.
Because God’s will isn’t something we can bend.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” — 1 John 5:14
That means:
- If we ask for something outside of His will, He may not give it
- Or… He may allow it, and teach us through the outcome
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” — James 4:3
And the truth is… this isn’t always easy to navigate.
Because it’s very natural for us—as humans—to misinterpret God’s will and align it with our own desires.
It’s easier to say, “this must be what God wanted,” especially when it lines up with what we already hoped for.
But that raises a deeper question:
How do we really know if what we’re pursuing after prayer is God’s will… or just our own desire dressed up to look like it?
I’m learning that not everything that feels right is from God.
Because God does not create confusion.
He does not lead us into things that feel wrong deep within.
He does not guide us into paths that contradict His Word.
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33
So the question becomes more honest:
Is this truly God’s will…
or is it my desire, masking itself as His?
That’s where the shift continues for me:
Instead of asking God to bless what I want,
I’m learning to pause and ask—
“God, is this from You?”
And even more:
“If it’s not… help me let it go.”
We Can Pray Anywhere…
One of the most unexpected realizations?
We can pray anywhere. Anytime.
Not just in church.
Not just before bed.
Not just at a table.
Even in silence.
Even in our thoughts.
Even… in the shower.
I remember telling my friend Alice how strange it felt—almost “naked” (pun intended 😅)—to be thinking about God or praying in the shower.
But then she reminded me of something simple:
God already sees everything.
God already hears everything.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” — Psalm 139:7–8
And then this truth settled in even deeper:
Our body itself is a temple.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…?” — 1 Corinthians 6:19
So there is no “separate place” where God is and isn’t.
There’s no moment where He is absent.
Which means prayer isn’t confined to a location—
it’s a constant connection.
And honestly… some of my clearest reflections happen there.
Standing in the shower, no distractions…
just thoughts flowing.
Ideas come.
Reflections surface.
Topics I should write about appear one after another.
And it makes me pause:
Something is placing those thoughts there.
Something is guiding that reflection.
My First Time Praying Out Loud
I still remember the first time I was asked to pray before a meal.
I froze.
I didn’t know what to say.
Do I talk about the food?
Do I talk about everything happening in the world?
Do I make it long? Short?
I ended up saying something simple:
Thank you for this food…
and for the ability to have it.
And right there, something shifted.
Because my mind immediately went to those who don’t have that.
People who face the choice between eating… or not eating.
That moment humbled me quickly.
Small Habits, Real Change
I’ve been told that praying over meals is optional.
But I’ve come to appreciate it.
It slows me down.
It reminds me.
It grounds me.
Even though—it’s still easy to forget and just start eating.
Changing old habits isn’t easy.
But maybe that’s part of the process.
“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Not perfectly.
Not formally.
But consistently.
What I’m Learning About Prayer
If I had to sum it up right now:
- Prayer is not just asking
- It’s worship
- It’s gratitude
- It’s alignment with God’s will
- It’s a conversation that can happen anywhere
And most importantly:
It’s not about doing it perfectly.
It’s about doing it sincerely.
