12 Daily Short and Simple Prayers To Connect With God

There are many different ways we can connect with God in our daily lives. 

Short, powerful prayers that you can say at any time during the day give you an opportunity to start an ongoing dialog with God and find strength in Him.  

Remember what Psalm 46:1-3 teaches us: 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

You can use short prayers for all kinds of prayer requests: a prayer for strength during difficult times, a prayer for healing of ourselves or our loved ones, or a prayer of gratitude.

In this article, we’ll show you 12 short prayers you can use as prayer requests for specific things or to simply take a moment to connect with your Heavenly Father.

Why is it so important that we talk to God daily?

1 Chronicle 16:11 instructs us to: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!” When we talk to God daily, we renew our faith in Him.” 

As Christians, we can use prayer as a devotional exercise and as a way of showing gratitude for the many blessings that God has given us. 

Prayer is just one way we can talk to God. We also communicate with Him through our actions. Righteous actions that show God we love Him include serving our fellow human beings and showing kindness and charity.

Prayer gives us strength and balance in our day. When we offer a short prayer to our Lord, we reaffirm our faith and ask God to help guide us on the path to salvation. 

God invites and encourages us to pray, and He will always answer us. There's no wrong way to say a prayer, and if you are earnest in your intentions, God will listen.

"You will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:12).

There's enormous power in prayer. You can even think of your short prayers as a shout-out to God — acknowledging His presence and the power He has in our lives. 

Short prayers allow you to remain in constant contact with the Lord as you take a moment to reflect on your day and talk to God. They bring you closer to God and His son Jesus.

How can I connect with God every day through prayer?

You can start your day with a morning prayer and meditation to motivate you and provide direction for the day. Before you go to bed at night, try saying a powerful night prayer in order to reflect on your day. 

When praying, try to remain present with God. This can help you find contentment in and tangibly connect with God’s love. When we are present with God using prayer and meditation, He helps to relieve our anxiety and fears. 

You can choose a short prayer for all different kinds of prayer requests or simply as an opportunity to connect with God. Your prayer can be as simple as saying: “I’m here, God, and I believe in Your power.” 

Consider your short prayer to God as a source of refuge from the worries of the world. It is a tool you can use anytime, anywhere. Psalm 32:7-8 tells us of the comfort we can find in the Lord: 

“You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Remember the words that Jesus told His followers: “So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:2). 

Prayer works because we are putting our faith in God and not in other people or events around us, over which we have little or no control.

12 short prayers to connect with God

Learn to make prayer an integral part of your day. Here are 12 different short prayers that you can use for a variety of reasons:

1. Prayer for perseverance  

“Holy Lord, Thank You for grace. Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up and give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope I run toward in Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen” (Gwen Smith).

2. Prayer to remove anxiety

 “Father, I am tempted to worry about so many things. Our world is a mess! Forgive me for focusing on anything or anyone but You. Thank You for the Bible that equips and empowers me to live each day. Right now, I declare that You are my only hope. Please help me remember that You really are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen” (Mary Southerland).

3. Prayer for when you feel inadequate 

“Dear God, Thank You for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank You for giving us worth in Your eyes. Help us live as the one You uniquely intended us to be. Help us abide instead of strive, living peacefully and joyfully as heirs to Your Kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen” (Julie Sunne).

4. Prayer for forgiveness and learning 

“Heavenly Father, I am so sorry for the way I complain about my circumstances. Please forgive me for my bad attitude when things don't go my way. I want to see Your hand in every part of every day — good or bad. Help me learn how to face every storm with confidence, knowing that You really are in control even though I cannot hear Your voice or see Your hand at work. In Jesus Name, Amen” (Mary Southerland).

5. Prayer for when you have a heavy heart

“Dear God, I want to lay before You all that weighs heavy on my heart. Reveal even the sin I am not aware of, Lord. I lay these at Your feet and pray for Your forgiveness. I believe You when You say that You wash us whiter than snow. Thank You Lord for Your unending love for me! Help me start fresh right now to make choices that honor You. In Jesus' Name, Amen” (Rick Warren).

6. Prayer for protection

“The Light of God surrounds us. The Love of God enfolds us. The Power of God protects us. The Presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are, God Is, and all is well!” (James Dillet Freeman).

7. Morning prayer

“Good morning, Lord! Today's a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It's a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank You for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that You want me to be. Amen” (Rebecca Barlow Jordan).

8. Prayer to help you get through difficult times

“Dear Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can’t handle. Amen” (Unknown).

9. Prayer for strength

“Father in heaven, I stand before You today in Your omnipotent presence to ask that You grant me strength. I want You to give me the strength to power through all of the tasks today — whether little or big. It is by Your will that I live oh Lord. And I know it is also by Your will I will not go weak today. I will not go lazy nor will I fail to do all things set before me because You strengthen me. Thank You for Your everlasting presence Lord and in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen” (Anonymous).

10. The Serenity Prayer 

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

Read more about the serenity prayer here.

11. The Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.” 

12. Prayer for unconditional love

“Heavenly Father, I have to thank You for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs of the difficult people in my life, and show me how to meet those needs in a way that pleases You. In Jesus’ name, Amen” (Mary Southerland).

Become one with God

Short prayers can be a powerful part of your spiritual toolkit as a Christian. Offering a simple short prayer to God can help you reframe your perspective and your entire day.

Don’t hesitate to ask God for help. Short prayers are a great way to communicate with God and Jesus Christ in our busy lives. God wants us to develop a relationship with Him. 

When you take the time to speak to God, you'll enjoy blessings and the strength of the Holy Spirit.

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

If you want to learn more about prayer, download the pray.com app — for daily prayer, bedtime Bible stories, and more — in the Google Play and Apple Store.