How the Heck Should We Pray? Addison Bevere Episode 413

In this powerful and practical conversation, I sat down with Addison Bevere to unpack one of the most common struggles in the Christian life: prayer. If you've ever felt like you're "bad at prayer," distracted, or unsure what to say, this episode meets you right there and gently reframes everything. You're Not the Only One Struggling Here's a surprising truth: Nearly 98% of Christians feel like they're bad at prayer Many compare themselves to others and feel inadequate The enemy uses that insecurity to isolate and discourage Addison shares that even growing up in a spiritually strong family, he felt like he didn't measure up. His journey into understanding prayer began from a place of deficiency, not mastery. Prayer Isn't Performance, It's Participation One of the biggest mindset shifts: Prayer is not a performance. It's not about saying the right words. It's not about praying long enough. Instead, prayer is: A relationship A posture of surrender A way of participating in what God is already doing "Prayer is not a religious exercise. It's how we participate in what is most real." This reframing alone can free you from pressure and invite you into something much deeper. The Real Problem: Self-Reliance Many of us approach prayer like this: "God, tell me what to do so I can go do it." But that mindset removes relationship. Instead of walking with God, we try to: Get answers Stay in control Avoid making mistakes This leads to: Anxiety Analysis paralysis Fear of doing the "wrong" thing But God's design is different. Faith Looks Like Movement A powerful biblical principle: "We will obey, and we will hear." (Exodus 24:7) In other words: You don't always get clarity first You take a step in faith Then God guides you along the way This removes the pressure of perfection and invites trust. God Is Not Waiting to Condemn You A core belief that needs to change: God is not looking for a reason to punish you. He is more invested in your life than you are. This matters because so many people: Avoid prayer out of shame Feel like they've already failed Believe God is distant or disappointed But Scripture tells a different story. "There is now no condemnation…" (Romans 8:1) Prayer is not where you're judged, it's where you're restored. Why Mornings Matter So Much One of the most practical takeaways is about how you start your day. Your brain is most receptive: Right when you wake up Before distractions take over But most people: Grab their phone within minutes Flood their mind with noise, stress, and comparison This shapes your entire day. Instead, consider: Staying off your phone for at least 30–60 minutes Sitting quietly with God Letting your mind and spirit settle This creates space to: Hear more clearly Receive rather than react Start from peace instead of pressure The Power of Stillness You don't need a perfect routine. Sometimes prayer looks like: Sitting quietly Lying still Letting thoughts surface Simply being aware of God's presence Even small moments of stillness can: Bring clarity Reveal truth Calm your mind A Simple Way to Start Praying If you don't know what to say, start here: 1. The Lord's Prayer (Slowly) Take it line by line: Reflect on each phrase Let it guide your thoughts Don't rush it 2. A Simple Prayer: "I Am Here" This three-word prayer is powerful: I am, I am present Here, I'm not in the past or future With God, I acknowledge His presence It centers you in: The moment The relationship The surrender Repentance Is a Gift Repentance isn't about shame, it's about freedom. It means: Turning away from self-reliance Returning to God Receiving grace again It's not a one-time event, it's a daily invitation. Prayer Changes How You Live As you grow in prayer, you'll notice: More clarity Less anxiety Greater awareness of God Increased sensitivity to others You begin to: Respond instead of react Listen instead of strive Walk with God instead of chasing answers Final Takeaway You don't need to: Be perfect Say the right words Have it all figured out You just need to: Slow down Show up Stay present Prayer isn't about doing more. It's about being with God. And that changes everything. Sponsors CrowdHealth An alternative to traditional health insurance that gives you: Lower-cost prescriptions and labs Access to vetted doctors A team to help manage bills You pay the first $500, and the community helps cover the rest. Get started for $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com. Just Thrive A clinically proven probiotic designed to: Support gut health Improve digestion Strengthen immunity Try it risk-free for 90 days. Get 20% off your first order at justthrivehealth.com with code BLAKE .

You can listen to How the Heck Should We Pray? Addison Bevere Episode 413 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How the Heck Should We Pray? Addison Bevere Episode 413 is an episode from Confessions Of A Crappy Christian Podcast by The Girl Named Blake.

This episode is 01:16:32 long.

This episode was published on May 6, 2026.

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