Watchtower Study, How to Improve Your Prayers, Week of December 22-28, 2025, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, How to Improve Your Prayers, December 22-28, 2025, Comments and Responses.

“I call with all my heart. Answer me, O LORD” (Ps. 119:145).

1, 2. a) What can make our sentences monotonous or superficial?

The hustle and bustle of life can lead us to make only brief prayers, and it can also happen when we feel unworthy to tell Jehovah everything we feel.

1, 2. b) How do we know that Jehovah pays attention to everything we say to him?

We know this because the Bible assures us that Jehovah listens to prayers made from the heart and with humility. He hears the plea of ​​the meek and pays attention to everything we say to him, for he truly cares for us (Psalm 10:17; 139:1-3).

3. What questions will we answer in this article?

In this article we will analyze and answer four main questions.

First: Why should we not be afraid to tell Jehovah our thoughts and feelings?

Second: What can we do to make our prayers deeper?

Third: How do the prayers we find in the Bible help us improve our own?

And finally: What can we do if we are so distressed that we cannot find the words to express what we feel?

By answering these four questions, we will strengthen our communication with Jehovah and enjoy prayer more.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PRAY TO JEHOVAH

4. What will help us to open our hearts to Jehovah? (Psalm 119:145)

It will help us to see him as a faithful friend who wants what is best for us. By striving to have a close relationship with Jehovah, as the writer of Psalm 119 did, we will find it easier to share our thoughts and feelings with him and open our hearts to him without fear.

5. Why shouldn't we let negative feelings stop us from praying? Give an example.

We must not allow negative feelings to stop us from praying, because Jehovah wants even those who have committed serious sins to approach him in prayer. Even if we feel guilty or ashamed, Jehovah is willing to listen to us and help us.

For example, a pilot who has made a mistake or deviated from his course would not fail to communicate with air traffic control out of embarrassment; on the contrary, he would ask for help to correct the situation. Similarly, when we make mistakes or stray spiritually, we should not be afraid to talk to Jehovah in prayer.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE DEEPER PRAYERS

6, 7. What will help us to make deeper sentences? Give an example (see also the note).

Reflecting on Jehovah's qualities will help us to pray more deeply, because the more we meditate on them, the easier it becomes to express our innermost thoughts and feelings to him frankly.

For example, Kristine had difficulty talking to Jehovah because of her experience of having an abusive father. However, by meditating on Jehovah’s loyal love, she felt secure and understood that he would never abandon her. This helped her to open her heart to him and share both her joys and her deepest sorrows in prayer.

8, 9. What are some benefits of thinking in advance about what to say to Jehovah? Give an example.

Thinking in advance about what to say to Jehovah helps us to organize our thoughts, to express our feelings more clearly, and to offer more balanced prayers that do not focus solely on our problems. It also allows us to be calmer and more focused when we pray and to include requests related to Jehovah's name, his Kingdom, and his will.

For example, Aliska, when faced with her husband's serious illness, felt so distressed that she didn't know what to say in prayer. By taking a few moments before praying to organize her thoughts, she was able to make her prayers calmer, more focused, and not solely centered on her own problems.

10. Why is it good for us to take time to pray? (See also the images.)

Because longer prayers make it more likely that we will tell Jehovah in greater detail about everything we feel, which helps us to feel closer to him. Jehovah is not in a hurry or “watching the clock,” so we can express ourselves calmly and without haste, thus strengthening our relationship with him.

ILLUSTRATION

Image series: 1. Before sunrise, a brother meditates, sitting at his desk with an open Bible and a cup of coffee. 2. The sun has risen, and the brother is still sitting at his desk, praying at length.

Find a time and place where you can pray at length. (See paragraph 10.)

MEDITATE ON THE PRAYERS OF BIBLICAL CHARACTERS

11. How does meditating on the prayers of some of Jehovah’s servants from Bible times help us? (See also the box “Do You Identify?”)

Meditating on the prayers and songs of praise of Jehovah’s servants in Bible times gives us ideas on how to express ourselves better in our own prayers. Furthermore, we can find expressions that help us to praise Jehovah and prayers with which we can identify, making it easier for us to talk to him about our feelings.

12. What questions can we ask ourselves when reading a sentence?

We can ask ourselves: Who said those words? What were their circumstances? Am I going through a similar situation? And what lessons can I learn from that statement? To find the answers, we'll have to do some research, but it will definitely be worth it.

13. What is one lesson we learn from Hannah's prayer? (1 Samuel 1:10, 11; see also the picture.)

One lesson is that when we have problems that don't go away, we should take the time to tell Jehovah everything that worries us and how it makes us feel. By doing so, we can find relief and feel much better, just as Hannah did. She took the time to tell Jehovah everything that troubled her and felt much better after praying openly.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. Hannah, filled with grief, looks away as Elkanah plays with two of his sons. 2. Peninnah smiles as she cradles her newborn son in her arms. 3. Hannah prays fervently through her tears. 4. High Priest Eli sits with his arms crossed, watching Hannah.

Hannah opened her heart to Jehovah and told him how bad she felt about being barren and about the constant mockery from Elkanah's other wife. (See paragraph 13.)

14. a) What other lesson can we learn from Ana's example?

The lesson is that even when problems haven't completely disappeared, we can cope better if we focus on how Jehovah has supported and blessed us. Hannah thanked Jehovah and focused on his care and protection, which helped her maintain a positive attitude.

14. b) How can meditating on the Bible enrich our prayers? (See footnote.)

Meditating on the Bible helps us recognize how Jehovah cares for and protects his loyal servants. By reflecting on these accounts, our prayers are enriched because they include gratitude and trust in Jehovah’s support, not just requests related to our problems.

15. What do we learn from Jeremiah's prayer? (Jeremiah 12:1).

We learn that we can express our frustrations and discouragement to Jehovah without accusing him of being unjust. Jeremiah spoke frankly about what troubled him, yet he maintained his confidence that Jehovah always acts justly. Likewise, we can tell Jehovah what worries us, confident that he will correct injustices in due course.

16. What do we learn from the prayer of an exiled Levite? (Psalm 42:1-4; see also the pictures.)

We learn that when we go through difficult situations that cause us sadness or emotional instability, it is important to speak openly to Jehovah about how we feel. By doing so, we can better understand our emotions and view the circumstances from a more balanced perspective. Just as the Levite did, opening our hearts to Jehovah helps us regain emotional balance, recognize that he cares for us, and find the strength to endure.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. A Levite prays intensely in a secluded place. 2. A brother in a hospital bed prays to Jehovah with an open Bible in his lap.

The Levite who wrote Psalm 42 opened his heart to God. If we tell Jehovah how we feel, it will be easier to see things from a different perspective. (See paragraph 16.)

17. a) What do we learn from Jonah's prayer? (Jonah 2:1, 2).

We learn that even when we have made mistakes or disobeyed, we can approach Jehovah with the assurance that he will hear our voice. Jonah trusted that Jehovah would hear him and pleaded with him for help even in an extreme situation.

17. b) How can some expressions from the Psalms help us when we go through difficult times? (See note).

The words of the Psalms can come to mind and comfort us when we are going through difficult times. Remembering and meditating on them strengthens our confidence that Jehovah will help us, just as he did with Jonah, and enables us to express ourselves more effectively in prayer.

KEEP PRAYING TO JEHOVAH TO DRAW CLOSER TO HIM

18, 19. How does Romans 8:26, 27 help us if we cannot find the words to express to Jehovah what we feel? Give an example.

Romans 8:26, 27 helps us understand that when we are so distressed that we do not know how to express what we feel, the holy spirit comes to our aid. Jehovah can accept some prayers recorded in the Bible as if they were our own requests and answer them, even when we are unable to express ourselves in words.

For example, a sister named Elena, who was arrested for praying and reading the Bible, was so distressed that she could not pray clearly. Remembering that Jehovah could accept the prayers of other faithful servants recorded in the Bible as if they were his own comforted her greatly and helped her to endure those difficult times.

20. What will help us prepare our minds to pray when we are under a lot of stress?

Listening to audio recordings of the Psalms or writing down our feelings, just as King David did, can be helpful. Furthermore, since we are all different, each Christian can find the method that works best for them to mentally prepare to pray when under a lot of stress.

21. Why can we open our hearts to Jehovah?

We can open our hearts to Jehovah because he understands our feelings even before we express them, and he loves to listen to us. Furthermore, he is a true friend in whom we can fully trust, so he will always be there for us when we share our sorrows and joys with him in prayer.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What will help us not to be afraid to pray to Jehovah?

It will help us to see him as a faithful friend who wants what is best for us and to strive to have a close relationship with him, just as the writer of Psalm 119 did. We should also remember that Jehovah wants even those who have committed serious sins to pray to him, so we should not let feelings of shame or guilt stop us from speaking honestly to him about our feelings and problems.

What can we do to make our prayers deeper?

We can reflect on Jehovah's qualities, which helps us to express ourselves more openly.

We can think ahead about what to say to him, reviewing our problems, concerns, and needs, and following Jesus' example by including requests related to Jehovah's name, his Kingdom, and his will.

We can take our time to pray, extending our prayers to tell him in more detail all that we feel and draw closer to him.

How does meditating on the prayers of biblical figures benefit us?

Meditating on the prayers of Jehovah’s servants in Bible times helps us learn how to express ourselves better in our own prayers. We can find helpful expressions for praising Jehovah and discover prayers with which we can identify.

Furthermore, by asking ourselves who said the words, what their circumstances were, whether we are going through similar situations, and what lessons we can learn, we enrich our understanding and strengthen our relationship with Jehovah.