Are you ready to take your spiritual journey to the highest level? One of the best ways to accomplish this is to develop a daily prayer practice.
Think of it as your spiritual workout. Just as you workout to keep in shape. a daily prayer practice keeps your soul healthy and connected to the Divine.
The most difficult aspect of praying is to make it a regular part of our daily lives. But with a little time and planning it is possible to create your own prayer routine that is suitable for you and your schedule. The greatest part is that you are able to modify the ritual to suit your personal preferences and spiritual tradition.
Let’s be real, life can be hectic and it’s easy to let prayer slip down on the priority list. But just like anything else worth having, it takes effort and discipline. That’s where developing the habit of praying comes into. It provides structure and accountability to ensure we’re in contact with God on a regularly.
How do you start? The first step is to figure out the time of day that is most conducive to you to pray. Some people like to start their day with prayer, and others prefer to pray at night before bed. Try it out and discover what works for you.
After you’ve decided on the most appropriate time to pray You can begin to establish a routine. Here’s an example of a pattern that you can follow daily for prayer in the morning:
Begin by addressing God and asking for his help as you read and meditate.
Read a passage from the Bible and meditate on the passage. This can be accomplished by reading it three to four times or by listing the things it says about yourself, or examples to follow, commands to follow or promises to make.
Structure your prayer by offering adoration, confession prayer, thanksgiving, and petition. Pray for your urgent needs and concerns as well as taking time to be in God’s presence.
The beauty of the prayer time routine is that it is customizable to meet your requirements. Some people may only have just a few minutes and others could have an hours or longer. The trick is that you make this a constant part of your routine. And if you miss the occasional day or two do not fret! Just get back on track for the next day.
A daily prayer practice is a great opportunity to begin your new year off with a renewed belief in the purpose of your life and a connection with the divine. It’s an effective way to begin your day by placing your attention upon the Lord and making sure that your actions and thoughts are aligned with His will.
Another method to improve your prayer time is to make it more engaging. Instead of reciting the words, you should try to connect with God at a deeper level. Use your imagination and try to imagine the scenes that are described within the Bible. Make an effort to experience the emotion of each character and put yourself in their the shoes of their characters. This makes your time of prayer more meaningful and personal.
You can also try incorporating different types in your prayer routine. For example, try silent prayer, contemplative prayer or even writing your prayers. This will keep your prayer practice from becoming repetitive and provide variety to your spiritual routine.
One of the best ways to remain engaged and focused on your daily prayers is sharing your practice with other people. Find an accountability partner, a friend or family member who will be checking in with you and encourage you to keep to your daily routine. They can even join you in prayers and share their own experiences.
The goal of a daily prayer practice is to deepen your relationship with God and align your thoughts and actions in accordance with His plans. It’s not about perfection or following an unwritten set of rules, it’s about being consistent and deliberate in your spiritual life. So, take the time to discover a prayer practice that is a good fit for you and incorporate it within your everyday life. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make for your spiritual development as well as overall wellbeing.
After we’ve been through that let’s look at some of our favorite daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Dear God, I’m weary and I don’t know what time the “race” will end in my life. It seems like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this challenge. Please help me stop trying to outrun my pain and instead run with endurance the race that you have set for me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world could ever separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your affection today; give me the strength to endure this challenge. Thanks for the unconditional love for me that never ceases! Also, thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever within your kingdom! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me courageous spirit as I move through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Help me keep a positive attitude when things don’t go my way. And give me the courage to complete whatever must be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
– Dr. Ray Pritchard
3. Prayer to Seek God Each Day
Father, praise God for the sky and sun, for both of them remind us of a new day’s challenge and opportunity to pursue You. Thank You for reminding us that it’s not all easy. But, it is important to remember that we don’t have to carry the burden into each new day. Please forgive us for dwelling on the past and for holding onto grudges. Bless our hearts to be held back by nothing when we pray to You every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Meg Bucher
4. A Daily Prayer of Rejoice
Father Thank you for your intervention within my personal life, and for allowing me the opportunity to have the privilege of a relationship with God. Thank you for allowing me to have a personal relationship with. Thank you for your unconditional love for me now and for the rest of my life. Thank for the blessings that you’ve bestowed to me and my family. Let us make use of those blessings to be a blessing to others. Let me live a life full of joy as I watch you work all around me! In Jesus the name of Jesus. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. for guidance from the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray you will move the Spirit more boldly in my life. I know that every sin could irritate and diminish the voice of the Spirit and I ask not to fall prey to sin. Help me to seek Your Presence more often than I crave sin. Help me to grow in the fruit that comes from your Spirit and walk in closer to You. I pray for guidance from Your Spirit- let your will and promises always be a constant reminder of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Kenny Luck
6. For God’s Grace Daily
Lord, we thank for your generous, abounding grace. We thank you that we don’t need to work for a drop from the great flow of grace that flows freely to us now. Thank you for the unplanned generous, undeserved blessing you’ve lavished upon my life. Help me put myself in the direction of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the things I must do to keep in contact with you frequently and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen. – David Mathis
7. A Prayer to Love the Life You Have
God I ask you to help me appreciate my life as it is today. Help me see the positive things that I overlook, and help me to be happy with the things I have. Let me be forgiven when I think I am comparing myself to others, forgive me for seeking things outside of you and your kingdom. I thank you that You love me right in the present, exactly where I am. Help me to keep my eyes fixed towards you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Nicki Koziarz
8. Prayer Against Distractions Today
As I get ready for the day, remind me that I belong to you and I want to live in accordance with your will. Help me keep my feet from sliding and my mind from wandering to distractions that can take precious energy and time from the most important things that you have designed for me. I’m proud to be your child, Lord. I’m grateful that you gave your life for me — rising again on your own new day, so that each day can be filled with the beauty of the love you have for me, the joy of your Spirit, and the delight of being a part of your family. – Rebecca Barlow Jordan
9. A Prayer for a Heavy Heart
Father I am so sad and burdened. I’m feeling like I’m forced to carry this burden by myself. Words like overwhelmed, distraught exhausted and frightened are the words that describe where I am. I’m not sure how I can let you carry my weight I need you to let me know how. Let me take it off. Allow me to rest and become revived to ensure that my heart doesn’t be so heavy in the morning. In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I need to be heard from you. Today, I make the commitment to start having a daily quiet time. I will seek Your voice over all other voices that surround me. Lord, teach me to center my life on You and help me obey what I hear You say. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Mary Southerland
11. Rely on God Today
Lord, we today ask to continue to work with Your Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Lord, it is easy for us to become obsessed with the anxieties that surround us in life, but we know that just as Your gaze is indeed at the sparrow so do You look after and watch over us.
Help us today to be more reliant on Your help today. Bring us into a greater understanding of the way You work in order that we gain a greater understanding that everything we see with our eyes is not all that is. Today , we pray for eyes to be able to see Your hand in all matters and hearts to be open to Your work. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer to Walk with God
Dear Lord, I love You. All that I’ve expressed above is the desire in my heart. I confess that sometimes my actions and reactions go against my devotion to You. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your mercy that allows me to see this day as an opportunity to be closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Lysa TerKeurst
13. A Morning Prayer for God’s Guidance
Dear Lord, help me to remember what a difference it makes to make spending time for You an absolute priority in my morning. Invigorate me in body and spirit each daily with an eagerness for a time of fellowship with You, and to be able to hear Your words of affirmation, faith, and wisdom to my mind as I prepare for my day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Traci Miles
“If any of your lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
14.. A Simple Morning Prayer
God Please illuminate my eyes with truth, inflame my heart with love and inspire my spirit with courage, enrich my life with service. Please forgive me for the things I’ve done and sanctify who I am, and establish what I shall be. Amen – Author Unknown
15.. A Prayer for the Work Day Ahead
Father, I thank you for the many ways you’ve blessed my life, specifically with this job that pays my bills and puts food on the table. Thank you that ALL work is meaningful because work is beneficial. Help me bring you glory by my actions and words, as well as through the good job I do to bring order to my small part of the world. Help me to see my work as a blessing, not a curse. Help me to have strength and grace for the toughest aspects of my work. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. – Renee Davis
16. A Morning Prayer for Cares and Concerns
My Father who is in Heaven, so much in my personal life has been broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they burden me. While I desire to put my worries on You, I find I usually pick them back up and again and they add more anxiety and stress. Help me to cast my cares upon You while I discover how to relax and trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Chrystal Evans Hurst
17. For Hope Today
God, allow me to hear you saying, “I am your hope” over all the other voices. Lord, your word says that you are the only hope for the hopeless, and I’m rushing to you with both my hands stretched out and grabbing onto you. Bring me back to hope and give me concrete proof today that hope is an irreplaceable eternal lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God knows those things in my life that I barely dare to hope for. Today I present them to you, I believe in you and I ask you to do so because I know that you can accomplish more than I can ever think of, imagine or ask for in my wildest hopes (Eph 3:20). God I am your hope , and I trust you. Amen. – Wendy can Eyck
18. Courage for the Day Ahead
God, I want to believe in the fact that you’re with me and that I am loved and respected by your love… However, there are days when it’s not easy. Help me to communicate the truth from your Word to myself. Let it flow from my heart into my soul. I ask you to give me peace and the courage to be an awe-inspiring warrior – for you’ve already crowned me victorious over every obstacle and hurdle. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Make my work easier on my hands by helping me to be productive, patient, focused, and insightful. Keep me free of distractions and keep me away from technology that is slowing my work rather than helping it. May your Spirit lead me in my work and help me to be joyful, creative, and worshipful-constantly reminding me of your love and that you’re the reason I have breath in my lungs. Teach me to align my work, family, church life, and rest in a way which will increase the glory of your name and let me bear the most fruit for your kingdom.
And as I work, I will keep my eyes at Jesus and his finished job on the cross which provided me with treasures I could not earn, rest which I wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience, and a new faith that will inspire me to strive for to glorify God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you all!