Introduction #

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian faith. It is our way of communicating with God and deepening our relationship with Him. However, finding time for prayer can be challenging. With our busy schedules, it’s easy to neglect prayer or reduce it to a mere formality. In this post, we’ll explore practical tips for making prayer a daily habit that will deepen your relationship with God.

Start Your Day with Prayer #

Starting your day with prayer is one of the most effective ways to make prayer a daily habit. Before you get out of bed or start your morning routine, take a few minutes to pray. Use this time to thank God for the gift of a new day, to ask for His guidance and strength for the day ahead, or to seek His forgiveness for any sins you may have committed. Starting your day with prayer sets the tone for the rest of your day and helps you stay connected to God throughout the day.

The Bible provides examples of starting the day with prayer:

Psalm 5:3, “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a prayer for you and watch” (NET).

Mark 1:35, “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place. And he was praying there” (NET).Pray Throughout Your Day

Another practical way to make prayer a daily habit is to pray throughout your day. As you go about your daily routine, take a moment to offer a quick prayer. For example, if you’re stuck in traffic, use that time to pray for patience and peace. If you’re working on a challenging project, pray for wisdom and guidance. By making prayer a part of your everyday life, you’ll develop a habit of turning to God in every situation.

The apostle Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:17:

“Pray continually” (NET).

This doesn’t mean that we should be praying non-stop throughout the day, but rather that we should be constantly aware of God’s presence and be ready to pray at any moment.

Set Aside Specific Times for Prayer #

While it’s important to pray throughout the day, it’s also helpful to set aside specific times for prayer. This can be a time when you’re alone and free from distractions, or it can be a time when you gather with others to pray. Whatever works best for you, make it a regular part of your routine. This will help you prioritize prayer and make it a habit.

Jesus Himself set aside specific times for prayer, as we see in Luke 5:16:

“Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed” (NET).

Use Prayer Prompts #

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to pray for, especially if you’re just starting to make prayer a daily habit. Using prayer prompts can help give you direction and focus for your prayers. You can use a prayer journal, an app, or even a daily devotional to guide your prayers. This will help you stay on track and make the most of your prayer time.

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus provides a prayer prompt in the form of the Lord’s Prayer:

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (NET).

Pray with Others #

Praying with others is a great way to make prayer a daily habit. When we pray with others, we can encourage and support one another, and our prayers can have a greater impact. Find a prayer group or a friend who shares your desire to make prayer a daily habit, and commit to praying together regularly. This will help you stay accountable and motivated.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus promises to be present when two or more gather in His name:

“For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them” (NET).

Here are some additional scriptures from the New Testament on Prayer: #

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (NET).

This passage encourages us to bring all of our concerns and requests to God in prayer, with thanksgiving and without anxiety. It promises that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds when we do so.

James 5:13-16 – “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness” (NET).

This passage urges us to pray in all circumstances, whether we are suffering, cheerful, or ill. It also highlights the power of prayer, saying that the prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

Ephesians 6:18 – “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints” (NET).

This verse encourages us to pray in the Spirit at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, and to be alert and persistent in prayer for all of God’s people.

Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being alert in it with thanksgiving” (NET).

This verse urges us to devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Prayer should be a regular and ongoing part of our lives as Christians.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NET).

This passage encourages us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, as this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Prayer is a key component of our relationship with God and our response to His blessings and challenges in our lives.

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life, but it can be challenging to make it a daily habit. By starting your day with prayer, praying throughout your day, setting aside specific times for prayer, using prayer prompts, and praying with others, you can develop a habit of prayer that will deepen your relationship with God. As you make prayer a priority in your life, you’ll find that it becomes easier to stay connected to God and to experience His presence in your everyday life.

Quotes #

Here are some quotes on prayer:

Benny Hinn, Prayer That Gets Results:

“Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God’s infinite grace and power. All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent.”

Billy Graham, Billy Graham in Quotes:

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Smith Wigglesworth, Smith Wigglesworth on Prayer, Power, and Miracles:

“God wants us to know that we are not to live in a place where we’re always asking, always beseeching. We’re to come to a place where we’re possessing, where we know that our prayers have been answered and that the thing we desire has come to pass.”

John G. Lake, Adventures in God:

“Prayer is the power that changes the world. It is the power that brings the presence of God into the lives of men, and makes men partakers of the divine nature. It is the power that conquers the enemy, and brings peace and joy and love into the hearts of men.”

D. John Rabindranath, The Practice of Prayer:

“Prayer is not just about asking God for what we want, but it is about knowing Him intimately and seeking His will for our lives. When we pray, we open ourselves up to the power and presence of God, and we allow Him to work in and through us.”

DGS Dhinakaran, The Practice of Prayer:

“Prayer is the most powerful weapon that we have as believers. It is through prayer that we can access the throne of God and bring His power and presence into our lives and into the lives of others. When we pray, we are partnering with God in His work in the world.”

PRAYER #

Father God,

Thank You for the gift of prayer and the opportunity to communicate with You. Help me to make prayer a daily habit, and to seek Your presence in every moment of my life. Give me the wisdom to know what to pray for and the courage to trust You with all my concerns. Strengthen my faith, deepen my relationship with You, and fill me with Your peace and joy.

I pray for those who are reading this article, that they too may develop a daily habit of prayer and experience the fullness of Your love and grace. May our prayers bring glory to Your name and may Your will be done in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings,

Godwin.