Are you ready to take your spiritual life to the next level? One of the best ways to do that is by developing a daily prayer routine.
Consider it your spiritual exercise, similar to as you workout to stay in shape, regular prayer will keep your soul strong and connected to the Divine.
The most challenging part of prayer is making it a consistent part of our daily lives. With a bit of planning and effort you can develop an effective prayer schedule that works for you and your time. The most appealing part is that you are able to modify it to fit your personality and spiritual tradition.
Life can be hectic and it’s easy to let prayers get lost on the list of priorities. Like everything else that’s worth being a part of, it requires commitment and discipline. This is where the creation of an effective prayer schedule comes in. It provides an order and accountability to ensure we’re connecting with the divine on regularly.
How do you start? The first step is to figure out which time of the day is most conducive to you to pray. Some people like to start their day with prayer, and others prefer to pray in the evening before going to getting to bed. Test and see what works best for you.
After you’ve decided on the most appropriate time to pray, you can start to establish a routine. Here’s an example of a pattern that you can follow daily for morning prayer:
Begin by talking to God, ask for his presence as you read and meditate.
Go through a section of the Bible and reflect on it for a while. This can be accomplished by reading the passage three to four times, or writing down anything it tells you about yourself, or the examples you can follow, instructions to follow or promises to keep.
Structure your prayer by praying for adoration, confession, petition, and thanksgiving. Pray for your needs and pressing concerns and then take time to enjoy God’s presence.
The best thing about the prayer time routine is that it is customizable to meet your requirements. For some, you may have only just a few minutes, while others may have an time or even more. The trick is that you make this a regular part of your daily routine. And if you miss one or two days Don’t be concerned! You can get back on track the next day.
The practice of daily prayer is a wonderful way to start this new year feeling a renewed belief in the purpose of your life and a connection with the divine. It’s a powerful way to begin your day by placing your attention to the Lord and making sure that your actions and thoughts are aligned to His plans.
Another method to improve your prayer time is to create a more interactive. Instead of simply reciting phrases, try engaging with God at a deeper level. Make use of your imagination and try to picture the scenes described by the Bible. Try to feel the emotions of the characters and put yourself in their the shoes of their characters. This will make your prayer time more meaningful and personal.
Try incorporating various forms in your prayer day-to-day routine. For instance, you can try silent prayer, contemplative prayer or even writing down your prayers. This can keep your prayer routine from becoming monotonous and add the variety you need to your spiritual practice.
One of the best methods to keep yourself engaged and focused on your prayer practice is by sharing your practice with other people. Find an accountability partner, a friend or family member who will be checking on you regularly and help you to adhere to your daily routine. They could even join you in prayers and share their own experiences.
The goal of daily prayer is to strengthen your relationship with God and ensure that your actions and thoughts are in line to His plan. It’s not about perfectionism or following a strict set of guidelines, but rather being deliberate and consistent in your daily spiritual practice. Therefore, make the effort to discover a prayer practice that is a good fit for you and set it as a priority in your daily life. You’ll be amazed at how much difference it makes for your spiritual development and overall well-being.
After we’ve been through that let’s check out some of our favorite daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Lord, I am tired and I don’t know what time my “race” will end in my life. It seems like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this obstacle. Please help me stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race that you have set for me. I am confident that because of you, I will ultimately be an ace over the struggles that I face in life. I am confident that nothing will ever be able to be able to separate me from your eternal love. I ask you to show me a bit of your unconditional love and give me the strength to stand through this test. I thank you so much for your unconditional love for me that will never end! Also, thank to you the chance of happiness which awaits me for eternity with you in the Kingdom of Heaven! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me tenacious courageous spirit as I move through my day. When I’m tempted give up, help me keep going. Give me a positive outlook even when the circumstances don’t seem to go my way. Give me the confidence to do whatever needs 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, as both of them remind us of a new day’s challenge and opportunity to chase You. Thank You for reminding us it’s not all easy. But, it is important to remember you don’t have to carry the pain into each new day. Please forgive us for focusing on the past and for keeping grudges. Thank You for our hearts that are not free of any limitation when we seek You every 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 establish a an intimate relationship with you. Thank you for the love you have for me now and for the rest of my life. Thank for the blessings that you’ve provided me and my family. Let us make use of those blessings to help others. Let me live a life full of joy as I witness you working around me today! In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. To receive guidance from the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray you will be able to move the Spirit more boldly within my own life. I know that any sin can grieve and diminish the Spirit’s voice. Spirit and I ask for protection against temptations to commit sin. Help me to crave Your presence more than I crave sin. Help me grow in the fruits from the Spirit and then walk more closely to You. I ask for direction from your Spirit- let your word and promise always be a source of meditation for my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Kenny Luck
6. For God’s Grace Daily
Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we do not need to work for a drop from the great river in grace which flows freely to us now. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me follow the direction of your kindness and love. Help me to not forget the discipline I must attend to you on a regular basis and 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, help me love the life I live in the present. Show me the good things I often overlook and help me be content with the things I have. Let me be forgiven when I compare myself to others, and forgive me for wanting things that aren’t in your kingdom. Thank you for loving me right where I am, just in the way 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, help me remember that I am a part of you, and my desire is to act accordingly. Help me keep my feet from sliding and my thoughts from drifting into distractions that may steal precious energy and time from the most important tasks you have created for me. I’m so proud to be your child, Lord. And I’m so grateful that you gave your life for me — rising to greet me each new day–so that my every day would have the wonder of the love you have for me, the freedom of your Spirit, and the joy of knowing you. – Rebecca Barlow Jordan
9. A Prayer for a Heavy Heart
Father, my heart is heavy. I feel as if I’m having to carry the burden alone. Words like depressed, overwhelmed exhausted and frightened are the words that describe where I am. I’m not sure of how to allow you to carry my heavy load Please let me know how. I’ll take it away. I’m going to rest and be rejuvenated so that my heart will not be as heavy in the morning. In Jesus the name of Jesus. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I need to be heard from you. Today, I make the commitment to have an hour of silence each day. I will be attentive to Your voice above all the other voices in my life. Lord, teach me to focus my attention on You, and help me to follow what I hear You say. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Mary Southerland
11. Rely on God Today
Lord, today we pray to continue to work with Your Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Lord, it’s easy for us to be consumed with the fears which surround us We know That just like Your eye is indeed upon the sparrows, so too do You look after and watch over us.
Help us today to be more reliant on Your help today. Give us a deeper understanding of the way You work to help us be able to understand that all we see with our eyes is not all that is. We ask today 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 in my heart. I acknowledge that there are times when my actions and my reactions betray my devotion to You. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your forgiveness which allows you to see the new day as a new chance to be closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Lysa TerKeurst
13. A Morning Prayer for God’s Guidance
Dear Lord, help me remember the difference to make spending time for You a priority in my morning. Bring me back to both my body and spirit every day with a desire to be with You and listen to You speak words of affirmation, faith, and wisdom over 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 the truth, ignite my heart with love, inspire my will with courage, enrich my life with service. Pardon what I have been and cleanse what I am, and establish my future. Amen – Author Unknown
15.. A Prayer for the Work Day Ahead
Father, thank you for the many ways you’ve blessed me especially by this job that helps me pay my bills and puts food on my table. Thank you for the fact that ALL work is important because work is good. I pray that I can bring glory to you by my actions my words, and through the good work I do to improve the order in my small part of the world. Help me view my work as a blessing and not an affront. 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
My Father who is in Heaven So much of my world is badly broken. I have a myriad of worries and cares and they weigh me down. Although I want to cast my cares upon You, I that I tend to pick them up and again and they cause to my stress and anxiety. Help me to place my burdens upon You while I discover what it means to be at peace and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Chrystal Evans Hurst
17. For Hope Today
Lord, help me hear you saying, “I am your hope” over all the other voices. Lord, according to your word that you are the hope for hopeless so I’m running towards you with both hands spread out and grasping your hand. Fill me up with faith and provide me with an actual reminder of the fact that hope is an unbreakable spiritual lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God You know the things in my life that I barely dare to hope for. Today, I offer the things I have to you, I am awestruck by them, and I ask you to do so because I know that you are able to do more than I could ever think, imagine, or even imagine in wildest 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 am known and loved by your love… but some days, it’s hard. Help me to communicate the truth of your Word to myself. Bring it from my mind towards 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
Make my work easier on my hands by encouraging me to be efficient and patient, focused and observant. 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 will maximize your glory and let me be the best fruitful to further your kingdom.
As I work, I will keep my gaze on Jesus and his finished job on the cross which gave me treasure I could not earn, rest which I wouldn’t otherwise experience, and a living hope that will fuel me to work for God’s glory. God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you everyone!