Many of us freeze when it is time to pray. We feel afraid of saying it wrong, and a little ashamed that we do not know how. We think there is a right way to talk, with old words and a holy voice, and we do not know it. So we say nothing.
Jesus talked about this worry directly.
The people who prayed for show
In his time, some people prayed out loud on street corners so others would see them. Some used long, repeated words because they thought more words meant God would listen better.
Jesus was teaching a crowd on a hillside when he brought this up. He told them they did not need to do any of that.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7 · King James VersionThe original Greek
Προσευχόμενοι δὲ μὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί, δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται·
Found in Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
And then he gave the reason. He said your Father already knows what you need, before you even ask.
That changes everything about praying. You are not giving God new information. You are not trying to get the words right so he will hear you. He already hears you.
The short prayer he gave
Right after that, Jesus gave them a prayer to use. Today it is called the Lord's Prayer. It is short. It asks for food for today. It asks to be forgiven, and to forgive other people. It asks for help when life gets hard.
That is all. No long speech. No special voice.
Where to start
You can say that prayer. You can also just say what is true. "I am scared about money." "I miss my mom." "Thank you for this morning." "I don't know what to say, but I am here."
Those are real prayers. A few honest words in your car or at the kitchen table count just as much as a long prayer in a big church.
If you are worried you are doing it wrong, you can let that go. Jesus took the pressure off on purpose. The God he talked about is not grading your words. He is glad you came to talk at all.