Are you looking to take your spirituality to the next level? One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to establish a regular prayer habit.
Consider it your spiritual workout. Just as you workout to stay fit, an everyday prayer routine can keep your soul strong and in tune with the divine.
The most challenging aspect of prayer is to make it a regular part of our life. But with a little amount of planning and effort you can develop a prayer routine that works for you and your time. And the greatest part is that you are able to modify the ritual to suit your personal preferences and religious tradition.
It’s true that life is hectic and it’s easy to let prayer slip down on the list of priorities. Like everything other thing worth having, it takes commitment and discipline. This is where establishing an effective prayer schedule comes in. It gives the structure and accountability needed to ensure we’re in contact with God on a an ongoing basis.
So, how do you begin? First, you must decide what time of day is most conducive to you to pray. Some prefer to begin their day with prayer, and others prefer to pray before going to going to bed. Test and see what works best for you.
After you’ve decided on the most appropriate time to pray then you can begin building your daily routine. Here’s an example of a pattern that you can follow daily for morning prayer:
Begin by approaching God and asking for his presence while you read and pray.
Take a chapter from the Bible and then meditate on it. This can be done by reading it three to four times, or writing down anything it tells you about yourself, or examples to follow, commands to obey , or promises to keep.
Structure your prayer by making confession, adoration, petition, and thanksgiving. Pray for your needs and pressing concerns as well as taking time to sit in the presence of God.
The best thing about a prayer routine is that it’s customizable to fit your needs. Some people may only have some minutes and others could have an time or even more. The trick is that you make this a constant element of your day-to-day routine. If you fall off one or two days do not fret! Get back on track the following day.
The practice of daily prayer is a wonderful way to start this new year feeling a new belief in the purpose of your life and a feeling of connection to the divine. It’s a powerful way to start your day, placing your attention on the Lord and aligning your thoughts and actions in accordance with His plan.
Another method to improve your prayer practice is to make it more interactive. Instead of simply reciting words, try to engage with God on a deeper level. Try using your imagination to visualize the scenes in the Bible. Make an effort to experience the emotion of each character and put yourself in their the shoes of their characters. This can make your time in prayer more personal and meaningful.
It is also possible to incorporate different forms prayers into your day-to-day routine. For instance, you can try silent prayer, contemplative prayer or even writing your prayers. This can keep your prayer routine from becoming boring and will add some variety to your daily spiritual routine.
One of the best methods to keep yourself engaged and focused on your daily prayer routine is sharing your practice with other people. Find a accountability partner, a family member or friend member who can check in with you and encourage you to keep to your routine. They could even be a part of your prayers and share their own experiences.
The goal of a daily prayer practice is to increase your connection with God and make sure that your thoughts and actions are aligned to His plan. It’s not about perfection 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 is a good fit for you and incorporate it in your daily life. You’ll be amazed at how much difference it makes on your spiritual growth and overall well-being.
Now we have been through that let’s take a look at some of our top daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
God, I’m exhausted and don’t know what time my “race” will end in my life. It seems like I’ve been running forever trying to conquer this obstacle. Please help me not try to beat my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you, I will ultimately be an ace over the struggles throughout my journey. I am certain that nothing in this world will ever be able to separate me from your steadfast love. Please show me some of your unconditional love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. I thank you so much for your devotion for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever with you in the Kingdom of Heaven! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through the day. If I’m tempted to quit, help me keep going. Help me keep a positive attitude even when the circumstances don’t seem to go as planned. Also, give me the strength 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, Praise You for the sky and the sun, for both of them remind us of an exciting new day and the chance to chase You. Thank You for reminding us that life is not always easy, but that we don’t need to carry the pain into each new day. We are sorry for focusing on the past and for holding onto grudges. We thank You for allowing 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 intervening in my life and allowing me to establish a the privilege of a relationship with Father, thank you for your intervention and allowing me to be a part of your family. Thank you for your unconditional love for me, today and always. Thank you for the blessings you’ve bestowed to me as well as my loved ones. Let us make use of those blessings to help others. May I live a lifetime of true joy as I witness you working in my life today! In Jesus the name of Jesus. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. For Guidance from the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray that you to be able to move the Spirit more powerfully throughout my daily life. I know that every sin could irritate and diminish the Spirit’s voice. Spirit and I ask not to fall prey to commit sin. Help me crave your Presence more often than I crave sin. Help me grow in the fruit of the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from Your Spirit- let your promises and wills always be a constant reminder of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Kenny Luck
6. For God’s Grace Daily
Lord, we thank you for your abundant grace, abundant grace. We thank you that we don’t need to work for a drop of the powerful river in grace which flows unreservedly to us right now. Thank you for the unplanned and undeserved favor you’ve bestowed upon my life. Help me follow the direction of your kindness and love. Help me to not forget the things I must do to meet with you regularly 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 I ask you to help me appreciate my life as it is today. Help me see the positive things I often overlook and help me feel content with my life. Forgive me when I judge myself against others, and forgive me for longing for things that aren’t yours and your kingdom. Thank you for loving me exactly where I am, right where I am. Help me to keep my eyes fixed at you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Nicki Koziarz
8. Prayer Against Distractions Today
As I start this day, help me remember that I am yours and that my goal is to behave accordingly. Make sure my feet don’t slip and my thoughts from drifting into distractions that may steal precious time and energy from the most important things you have designed for me. I am proud to be your son, Lord. I’m grateful for the sacrifice you made for me, rising from the dead on your new day, so that each day can have the joy of your love, the joy of your Spirit and the delight of knowing you. – Rebecca Barlow Jordan
9. A Prayer for a Heavy Heart
Father My heart is heavy. I’m feeling like I’m forced to carry the burden alone. Words like depressed, overwhelmed exhausted, and distraught seem to be the best description of where I am. I am not sure of how to allow you to take on my burden Please let me know how. I’ll take it away. Allow me to rest and become revived so that my heart will not be so heavy in the morning. In Jesus the name of Jesus. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I want to listen to You. Today I am making a commitment to begin a quiet time each day. I will be attentive to Your voice over all the other voices in my life. 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, we ask today for more of Your Holy Spirit to be present in our lives. Lord, it can be easy for us to be obsessed with the anxieties which surround us, but we know that just as Your eyes is at the sparrow so too do You look after and see us.
Help us today to be more reliant on You. Give us a deeper awareness of Your ways of working in order that we come into a deeper understanding that what that we see in our natural eyes is not what it is. Today , we pray for eyes that can see Your hands in all matters, and hearts open to Your mission. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer to Walk with God
Dear Lord I Love You. Everything I’ve written above is the love from my soul. I admit that at times my actions and my reactions betray my love for You. I ask for forgiveness. Thanks for your mercy that allows me to see the 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 what a difference it makes when I make time for You my first priority in the morning. Bring me back to body and spirit each morning with the desire for a time of fellowship with You and to be able to hear Your words of affirmation, faith and wisdom over my mind as I prepare to go into 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 the truth, ignite my heart with compassion, inspire my will with courage, enrich my life with service. Pardon what I have been and sanctify who I am and set the stage for 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 by this job that helps me pay my bills and puts food on the table. Thank you that ALL work has significance because the work you do is rewarding. Help me bring you glory by my actions my words, and through the good efforts I make to improve the order in my little area of the globe. Help me see my job as a blessing, not as a curse. I need your 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
My Father who is in Heaven I am so grateful to you that my personal life has been broken. I have a myriad of worries and cares and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I I usually pick them back up again, and they only add additional stress and anxiety. Help me to cast my cares 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
God, allow me hear you say, “I am your hope” over all the other voices. Lord, your word declares that you are the only hope for the hopeless, therefore I’m running towards you with both hands extended and holding your hand. Give me faith and provide me with an actual reminder that today hope is an irreplaceable spiritual lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God, you know those things in my heart that I can’t even begin to imagine hoping for. Today, I offer the things I have to you, I trust them to you, and I ask you to do so because I know that you are able to do more than I can ever guess, imagine or request in wildest dreams (Eph 3:20). God You are my hope and I trust you. Amen. – Wendy can Eyck
18. Courage for the Day Ahead
God, I want to believe that you’re with me and that I am known and loved by you… However, some days, it’s hard. Help me to speak the truth in your Word to myself. Take it from my heart to my heart. I ask you to give me peace and confidence to live as the conqueror because you’ve already won me victory over every challenge and obstacle. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Establish the work of my hands by assisting me to be efficient, patient, focused, and observant. Keep me from distractions and technology hindering my work , instead of 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. Help me to integrate my personal, professional and church life with rest in a manner that would maximize the glory of your name and allow me to bear the most fruit to further your kingdom.
As I work, I will keep my gaze on Jesus and his final work on the cross which provided me with treasures I couldn’t earn, peace that I would not normally be able to experience, and a new hope that can fuel my desire to pursue to glorify God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you everyone!