Can I pray if I’m not sure anyone is listening?

Yes. You can pray exactly that.

Jesus’ friends asked him how to pray, and he gave them the Lord’s Prayer. It is short, and Christians everywhere say it, so you can use its words before you have your own.

The four-minute prayer on this site is a good first try: one opening line, Psalm 23, the Lord’s Prayer, and a blessing. You do not need to feel anything for it to be real.

Pray for four minutes

Where it is in the Bible

• Luke 11:1–4 Jesus’ friends ask him to teach them to pray.

  Read Luke 11:1–4

  ¹ When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” ² He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. ³ Give us day by day our daily bread. ⁴ Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”

  World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

• Matthew 6:6–8 Jesus: pray simply. God knows what you need before you ask.

  Read Matthew 6:6–8

  ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ⁷ In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. ⁸ Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

  World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →