How do I call on God?

Calling on God is an act of faith and an essential part of developing a relationship with Him. When we call on God, we are acknowledging our dependence on Him, His power to help us, and His desire to be involved in our lives. Calling on God can take many forms – prayer, worship, crying out to Him – but the key is coming to Him with humility, sincerity, and expectation that He will hear and respond.

Why should I call on God?

There are many reasons we should make a habit of calling on God regularly:

He invites us to call on Him – God encourages us repeatedly in the Bible to call out to Him. He wants to hear from us and be involved in our lives (Jeremiah 33:3, Romans 10:12-13).
It’s an act of submission to God – Calling on Him reminds us that we are not in control and humbly acknowledges our need for His intervention. This posture allows Him to work powerfully (James 4:7-10, 1 Peter 5:6-7).
He promises to answer – God assures us that when we call on Him sincerely, He will hear and respond (Isaiah 30:19, Jeremiah 29:12-13). He is faithful to His Word.

It makes a way for God’s action – Calling on God creates opportunities for Him to guide us, transform us, redeem situations, perform miracles, and bring glory to His name (Psalm 50:15, Psalm 91:14-16, Acts 16:25-26).

In summary, calling on God demonstrates our faith in Him, dependence on Him, and desire to see Him move. He delights in our sincere cries for help and will answer us accordingly.

How can I call on God?

Here are some Biblical ways we can call on God:

Prayer

One of the central ways we call on God is through prayer. We can call on Him at anytime through informal conversation, as well as structured prayer:

Informal prayer – Talking to God spontaneously throughout the day about needs and desires that arise (Nehemiah 2:4, Matthew 14:30)
Requests and petitions – Asking God specifically for help or to meet needs (Matthew 7:7-11, Philippians 4:6, 1 John 5:14-15)

Intercession – Praying on behalf of others (Colossians 1:9-12, James 5:14-16)
Thanksgiving – Expressing gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done (Psalm 105:1, Philippians 4:6-7)
Praise – Praising and worshiping God for His character, deeds, creation, etc. (Psalm 145:1-2, Acts 16:25)

Listening – Pausing to hear God’s direction and insight in prayer times (1 Kings 19:11-13, Habakkuk 2:1)

Calling on God through different forms of prayer allows ongoing two-way communication with Him. He hears us and responds in various ways according to His will.

Crying out

There are times when calling on God takes the form of an urgent cry from our hearts. We desperately plead for His help in intense situations of need or distress. Examples in the Bible include:

The Israelites crying out when oppressed in Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25)
Bartimaeus crying out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” for healing (Mark 10:46-52)
Peter crying out “Lord, save me!” when sinking into water (Matthew 14:28-31)

The tax collector crying “God have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:9-14)
Jesus crying out to the Father from the cross (Matthew 27:46)

God hears our urgent cries when life feels overwhelming or desperate. He draws near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit who call on His name (Psalm 34:17-18).

Meditating on God’s Word

Meditating on scripture helps us hear from and connect with God. As we read or say Bible verses, we can call on God to speak through them. The Holy Spirit often makes verses come alive with insight for us when we meditate expectantly. Scriptures assure us of God’s presence and work in our lives when we call on Him:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 17:6)

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

Worship

Singing worship songs and hymns, or playing worship music, invites God’s presence and awakens our hearts to Him. Worship calls on God to move among us and become our focus. It engages our bodies, voices, emotions, and spirits in connecting with Him. Corporate worship unites our praises and becomes a powerful summons for God to work (2 Chronicles 5:11-14).

Fasting

Fasting is a spiritual discipline we can add to prayer when we desperately need to call on God. Fasting humbles us, expresses dependence on God, and intensifies our prayers. In the Bible, God’s people often fasted when crying out for major needs or direction (Ezra 8:21-23, Esther 4:16, Acts 13:2-3).

What are God’s promises when I call on Him?

Here are some key promises from God’s Word when we call on Him:

He will answer us – God promises to hear and respond when we call on Him. He may answer in various ways – through guidance, provision, comfort, inner strength, intervention, etc. But we can trust He is faithful (Ps 86:7, Is 58:9, Jer 33:3, Mt 7:7-8).
He will deliver us – When we are in trouble or distress, God assures us that calling on His name will bring His deliverance. He will rescue us, set us free, and bring us to a place of safety (Ps 50:15, Ro 10:13, 2Ti 3:11).

He will be with us – God will never leave or forsake us. When we call on Him, He promises to be present with us in every situation we face in life (Dt 31:6, Jos 1:9, Ps 138:8, He 13:5-6).
He will give us peace – Calling on God allows Him to speak to our anxious hearts with truth, wisdom and comfort. As we cast our cares on Him, He gives us supernatural peace and calm (Ps 94:19, Ph 4:6-7, 2Th 3:16).
He will save us – God promises salvation and eternal life to all who call on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness and new life. We begin an unbreakable relationship with Him (Ac 2:21, Ro 10:9-13).

God is reliable to fulfill these promises because He is faithful, loving, and all-powerful. Our part is to keep calling on Him devotedly in every season of life.

How did people call on God in the Bible?

Here are some examples of key Biblical figures who called on God in different ways:

Moses

Moses called on God frequently for direction and help with leading Israel. He would meet with God in the tabernacle and cry out to Him when the people rebelled (Exodus 33:7-11, Numbers 14:13-19). God spoke to Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Hannah

When Hannah desperately wanted a child, she called on God weeping and praying so intensely that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. God heard her prayers and she later praised and thanked Him for the son He gave her (1 Samuel 1:9-20).

David

David composed many Psalms calling on God for help and deliverance from his enemies. He cried out in times of danger and despair. He also called on God frequently in praise and adoration (Psalm 18, Psalm 57, Psalm 142).

Esther

Esther urged all the Jews to unite in prayer and fasting for protection from their enemies. She boldly approached the king after three days of intensely calling on God together (Esther 4). In response, God saved the Jews from destruction.

Elijah

When prophesying the end of a drought, Elijah bowed down low with his face between his knees as he persistently called on God in prayer. After seven times praying, he finally saw a small cloud form, which soon poured heavy rain (1 Kings 18:41-46).

The Early Church

The believers in the early church devoted themselves to fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and calling on the name of the Lord. They saw great growth and miracles as they gathered regularly to call on God together (Acts 2:40-47).

These examples demonstrate that calling on God requires perseverance, sincerity, and faith to see breakthroughs. He enjoys responding to His children’s heartfelt cries.

Should I follow a certain model to call on God?

The Bible does not prescribe a strict formula for calling on God. He gives us the flexibility to call on Him spontaneously in our own words and creative ways as the need arises. However, the model Jesus gave in teaching the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) provides a helpful framework we can apply when calling on God:

Approach God as your Father who loves you
Submit yourself to His purposes and plan

Ask for your daily needs
Seek forgiveness and forgive others
Ask for help avoiding sin and temptation

Express your dependence on and trust in Him
Thank Him for blessings and goodness

This model covers a wide range of elements for communing with God – praise, requests, intercession, confession, spiritual warfare, thanksgiving, surrender. We can incorporate these elements as we call on God in our own words and style.

The Lord’s Prayer Model

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

How can I grow in calling on God?

Some tips for developing deeper habits of calling on God include:

Set aside regular undistracted time to call on Him

Journal conversations with Him about your thoughts, struggles, gratitude
Sing worship songs, hymns, and spiritual songs
Memorize and meditate on scriptures about calling on Him

Download a prayer app you can use to call on Him throughout your day
Fast weekly or monthly to intensify your focus on calling out to God
Find a prayer partner who can call on God together with you

Read biographies of great men and women of prayer

The more we deliberately seek God in prayer, the more natural it becomes to call on Him instantly about anything. Regular habits of calling on God will transform us and create a reservoir of miraculous testimonies over time.

What can hinder my prayers when I call on God?

Some things that can limit God’s response when we call on Him include:

Unconfessed sin – God calls us to repent and remove any sin blocking our fellowship with Him (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Wrong motivations – Seeking selfish outcomes rather than God’s will and glory (James 4:2-3).
Unforgiveness – Holding unforgiveness toward others blocks our own prayers (Mark 11:25).

Indifference – Approaching God casually rather than passionately (Proverbs 15:8, 29).
Wrong treatment of spouse – Disobeying principles for marriage and family (1 Peter 3:7).
Neglecting the poor – Ignoring needs of the poor and oppressed (Proverbs 21:13).

Rote repetition – Praying with vain repetition as a religious ritual (Matthew 6:7).
Faithlessness – Doubting God’s willingness and power to help us (James 1:6-8).

The solution to all these prayer hindrances is heartfelt repentance and renewed faith. God is eager to welcome us back with open arms when we call on Him sincerely.

What are the benefits of calling on God?

Some incredible benefits come from cultivating a lifestyle of calling on God. These include:

God’s presence – Sense God’s nearness, approval, help (Ps 145:18, Is 30:19, Zec 13:9).
Peace – Receive God’s peace as we cast anxieties on Him (Ps 55:22, Ph 4:6-7, 1 Pe 5:7).

Provision – God meets our needs when we seek Him first (Mt 6:33, Lk 12:31, Ph 4:19).
Healing – Emotional, spiritual, relational, physical healing (Ex 15:26, Ps 30:2, Ja 5:15-16).
Guidance – God leads us in the right direction and decisions (Pr 3:5-6, Is 30:21).

Deliverance – God sets us free from strongholds and addictions (2 Sa 22:2, Ps 34:17, Ac 26:17-18).
Courage – Receive strength to face trials, opposition, fears (Ps 138:3, Da 10:19, Ac 4:29-31).
Transformation – Become more like Christ as we pursue Him (Ro 12:2, 2 Co 3:18, Col 3:10).

Conclusion

Calling on God opens the door for Him to powerfully work in every part of our lives. As we continually turn to Him in both good and bad times, we will experience His activity and blessings firsthand. A lifestyle of calling on God fuels an intimate relationship with Him where we know His voice, see His hand, and grow in bold faith.