Are you willing to take your spirituality to the next level? One of the most effective ways to do that is to establish a regular prayer practice.
Think of it as your spiritual exercise, similar to as you workout to keep in shape. regular prayer keeps your soul healthy and connected to the divine.
The most challenging part of prayer is making it a constant part of our lives. However, with a time and planning, you can create a prayer routine that works for you and your time. The most appealing part is that you get to customize it to fit your personality and spiritual tradition.
It’s true that life can be hectic and it’s easy to let prayer slide off the list of priorities. But just like anything else that’s worth being a part of, it requires commitment and discipline. This is where establishing an effective prayer schedule comes in. It gives the structure and accountability needed to ensure we’re connected to God on a a regular basis.
How do you get started? It’s the first thing to do is decide the time of day that works best for you to pray. Some people like to start their day with prayer, while others prefer to pray at night before getting to bed. Test and see what works for you.
Once you’ve determined the best time for prayer then you can begin building your daily routine. Here’s an example of a daily pattern for morning prayers:
Begin by talking to God to ask for his presence while you read and pray.
Take a chapter from the Bible and meditate on it for a while. This can be done by reading it three to four times, or listing the things it says about yourself, or guidelines to follow or promises to keep.
Structure your prayer by offering adoration, confession prayer, thanksgiving, and petition. Make a prayer for your immediate needs and worries, and take time to be in God’s presence.
The great thing about a prayer routine is that it can be adapted to suit your needs. Many people might only have just a few minutes and others could have a half an hour or more. The key is to make it a regular element of your day-to-day routine. If you don’t make it through a day or two, don’t sweat it! Get back on track for the next day.
An everyday prayer practice is a great method to begin your new year off with a fresh sense of purpose and connection with the divine. It’s a powerful method to begin your day by keeping your eyes upon the Lord and making sure that your actions and thoughts are aligned to His plans.
Another way to increase your prayer practice is to enhance it by making it more engaging. Instead of reciting the phrases, try engaging with God in a deeper way. Make use of your imagination and try to imagine the scenes that are described by the Bible. Try to feel the emotions of the characters and put yourself in their position. This will make your prayer time more meaningful and personal.
It is also possible to incorporate various forms in your prayer day-to-day routine. For instance, you can try silent prayer, contemplative prayer, or even journaling your prayers. This will keep your prayer routine from becoming repetitive and provide the variety you need to your spiritual practice.
One of the best ways to remain motivated and on track with your daily prayers is sharing your practice with other people. Find an accountability partner, a family member or friend member who can check in with you and help you to stick to your daily routine. They can even join you in prayer and share their own experiences.
Rememberthat the purpose of a daily prayer practice is to strengthen your relationship with God and ensure that your actions and thoughts are in line with His will. It’s not about perfectionism or following an unwritten set of guidelines, but rather being deliberate and consistent in your life of faith. Therefore, make the effort to discover a prayer practice that you enjoy and make it a priority in your daily life. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make on your spiritual growth and overall health.
After we’ve completed that, let’s look at some of our top daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Dear God, I’m tired and I don’t know what time the “race” will end in my life. It seems like I’ve been running for years trying to beat this challenge. Help me to quit trying to run away from my pain and instead run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that thanks to you I am ultimately triumphant over all the challenges throughout my journey. I know that nothing can keep me from your unwavering love. Please show me some of your affection today. Give me the courage to face this test. I thank you so much for your unconditional love for me that will never end! And thank me for your crown of happiness which awaits me for eternity in your Kingdom! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me tenacious courageous spirit as I move through the day. When I am tempted to give up, assist me keep going. Give me a positive outlook when things don’t go my way. Give me the confidence to take action when it is needed to be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
– Dr. Ray Pritchard
3. Prayer to Seek God Each Day
Father, thank You for the sky and sun, for both of them remind us of the new day’s challenges and opportunity to chase You. Thank You for reminding us that the journey isn’t necessarily easy but that you don’t have to carry the hard to each day. Please forgive us for focusing on the past and holding onto grudges. Bless our hearts to be held back by nothing as we seek You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Meg Bucher
4. A Daily Prayer of Rejoice
Father Thank you for your intervention in my life and allowing me to enjoy a an intimate relationship with Father, thank you for your intervention and allowing me to be a part of your family. Thank you for your love for me, today and always. Thank you for the blessings you’ve bestowed to me and my family. Help us use those blessings to help others. May I live a lifetime of true joy as I witness you working all around me! In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. for guidance From the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray you to move the Spirit more boldly throughout my daily life. I am aware that every sin could irritate and diminish the spirit of the Spirit and I ask against the temptation to commit sin. Help me to crave Your Spirit more strongly than I want sin. Help me develop the fruit from the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from your Spirit- let your promises and wills always be a meditation of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Kenny Luck
6. For God’s Grace Daily
Lord, we thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we do not have to earn a drop of the mighty stream of grace that flows unreservedly to us right now. We thank you for the unexpected generous, undeserved blessing you’ve lavished upon my life. Help me put myself in the direction of your love and grace. Help me to keep the things I must do to keep in contact with you frequently and get a drink from the well of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen. – David Mathis
7. A Prayer to Love the Life You Have
God, help me love my life right now. Let me know the good things that I tend to overlook and help me to be happy with the things I have. Please forgive me when I compare myself to other people, and forgive me for wanting things that aren’t in your kingdom. Thanks for being with me exactly where I am, right in the way I am. Help me keep my eyes towards you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Nicki Koziarz
8. Prayer Against Distractions Today
As I get ready for the day, help me to remember that I belong to you, and my desire is to behave accordingly. Help me keep my feet from sliding and my mind from wandering into distractions that may steal precious time and energy away from the most important things that you have created for me. I am proud to be your child, Lord. I’m grateful that you died for me–rising from the dead on your new day, so that each day could be filled with the joy of your love, the freedom of your Spirit, and the delight of knowing that you are with me. – 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 bear the burden on my own. Words like overwhelmed, devastated, exhausted seem to describe my current state. I am not sure of how to allow you to carry my heavy load, so please let me know how. Take it from me. Let me rest and be revived so that my heart won’t be as heavy the next morning. In Jesus the name of Jesus. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I need to listen to You. Today I take the pledge to have an hour of silence each day. I will seek Your voice above all the other voices that surround me. Lord, teach me to focus my attention on You. Help me follow the words You speak to me. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Mary Southerland
11. Rely on God Today
Lord, today we pray to continue to work with Your Holy Spirit to be present in our lives. Lord, it’s easy for us to become overwhelmed by the worries that surround us in life We know the same way that Your eyes is indeed upon the sparrows, so also are You concerned for and look out for us.
We can learn today to be more reliant on You. Bring us into a greater discernment of how You operate to help us be able to understand that all we see with natural eyes isn’t all there is. We ask today for eyes to be able to see Your hand in all things and hearts to be open to Your will. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer to Walk with God
Dear Lord, I love You. Everything I’ve written above is the love of my heart. I confess that sometimes my actions and my reactions betray my love for You. Please forgive me. I thank You for the grace which allows you to see this new day as a chance to walk closer with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Lysa TerKeurst
13. A Morning Prayer for God’s Guidance
God of my life, please help me remember the difference when I make time with You an absolute priority in my morning. Bring me back to both my body and spirit every daily with an eagerness for a time of fellowship with You and to listen to You speak affirmations, confidence and wisdom to my mind as I prepare to begin 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 mind with the truth, ignite my heart with compassion, inspire my will by courage, and fill my life by serving. Forgive me for what I’ve done, sanctify what I am, and establish the way I will be. Amen – Author Unknown
15.. A Prayer for the Work Day Ahead
Father, thank you for the many ways you’ve blessed my life especially through this job which provides me with a paycheck and food on my table. Thank you for the fact that ALL work is important because work is beneficial. I pray that I can bring glory to you today, through my actions and words, as well as by the job I do to improve the order in my tiny part of the world. Help me see my job as a blessing instead of a curse. Give me grace and strength to face the most difficult aspects of my job. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. – Renee Davis
16. A Morning Prayer for Cares and Concerns
Dear Father in Heaven So much of my world is badly broken. I have so many concerns and worries and they make me feel heavy. While I desire to put my worries on You, I that I often pick them up again and they cause additional stress and anxiety. Help me to place my burdens on You , as I learn what it means to be at peace and trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Chrystal Evans Hurst
17. For Hope Today
Help me, Lord to hear your voice saying, “I am your hope” over all other voices. Lord, according to your word, you are the hope for the hopeless, therefore I’m running towards you with both hands extended and holding onto you. Fill me up with hope and give me a tangible reminder that today hope is an unbreakable eternal lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God knows those things that are in my heart I am unable to even imagine wishing for. Today I present these things to you. I believe in you and request that you do it as I am sure that you can accomplish more than I can ever think, imagine, or even imagine in the wildest of dreams (Eph 3:20). God, you are my faith and I trust in you. Amen. – Wendy can Eyck
18. Courage for the Day Ahead
God I would like to believe that you’re there with me and that I’m loved and respected by you… but sometimes, it’s difficult. Help me to communicate the truth from your Word back to myself. Let it flow from my head towards my heart. Give me peace and wisdom the courage to be a conqueror – because you’ve already won me victory over every obstacle and challenge. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Establish the work of my hands by encouraging me to be productive as well as patient, focused and sharp. Refrain me from distractions and from technology hindering my work , instead of aiding 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. Help me align my family, work, church life, and rest in a way that would maximize the glory of your name and let me produce the highest fruit to further your kingdom.
As I work, keep my gaze at Jesus and his work on the cross that gave me treasure that I could not acquire, peace that I could not otherwise have, and a vivacious faith that will inspire me to strive for to glorify God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you everyone!