How to pray
How to pray for yourself without feeling selfish
· 2 min read
How to pray for yourself, why it isn't selfish, what to ask God for, and Bible verses that show us how to bring our own needs to Him.
To pray for yourself, bring your own needs to God honestly, the same way you’d bring a friend’s. It isn’t selfish. Jesus taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts” (Matthew 6:11-12). God invites us to “draw near to the throne of grace… to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Is it okay to pray for yourself?
Yes. Praying for yourself is part of the prayer Jesus taught, which asks for daily bread and forgiveness (Matthew 6:11-12). Bring your own needs to God honestly: forgiveness, wisdom, strength, daily provision, growth in faith, and the things that worry you. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to draw near to the throne of grace for help in time of need.
What to pray for yourself
- Forgiveness. Confess where you’ve fallen short (1 John 1:9).
- Wisdom. For decisions at work, at home, and in relationships (James 1:5).
- Daily needs. Work, money, health, and rest (Matthew 6:11).
- Strength. For hard days and hard conversations (Isaiah 40:31).
- Growth. To know and love God more, and to love others well (Philippians 1:9).
- Your worries. Name them and give them to God (1 Peter 5:7).
Pray Scripture over yourself
- “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23)
- “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
For more verses to pray, grouped by theme, see these Bible verses about prayer.
Balance your prayers
Praying for yourself and praying for others go together. A simple pattern like ACTS, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, keeps your prayers centered on God while making room for your needs.
Make a prayer card for your own needs, too, in a category like Personal.
Pray for yourself in The Pray App
Add prayer cards for your own needs in the Personal category, and set how often each one comes up. Write about what you’re facing in Journal, and come back to see how God has answered.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to create a prayer card.
Questions people ask
Is it selfish to pray for yourself?
No. Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread and forgiveness (Matthew 6:11-12), and Hebrews 4:16 invites us to come to God for help in time of need.
What should I pray for myself?
Pray for forgiveness, wisdom, strength, your daily needs, growth in faith, and help with the things that worry you. Pray that you would know and love God more.
What is a good Bible verse to pray for yourself?
Psalm 139:23-24 asks God to search your heart. James 1:5 asks for wisdom, and Philippians 4:6-7 tells you to bring your requests to God and receive His peace.
Related guides
- How to pray with your kids, at bedtime and every dayHow to teach your kids to pray, a simple pattern they can remember, bedtime prayers, praying a blessing over them, and ideas for every age.
- The ACTS prayer method, a simple guide with examplesThe ACTS prayer method explained, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, with a short example of each and Scripture to pray.
- Advent prayers for each week, for you and your familyAdvent prayers for each week of Advent 2026, Scripture to read from God's promises to Christ's return, and simple ways for a family to pray toward Christmas.
- Bible verses about prayer to encourage you to prayBible verses about prayer, grouped by theme, on why to pray, how to pray, praying with faith, and God hearing our prayers, with short notes.