Are you willing to take your spiritual life to the highest level? One of the best ways to accomplish this is to establish a regular prayer practice.
Consider it your spiritual exercise, similar to like hitting the gym to stay in shape, regular prayer keeps your soul healthy and connected to the divine.
The most difficult aspect of prayer is making it a constant part of our lives. However, with a time and planning it is possible to create an effective prayer schedule that works for you and your schedule. And the greatest part is that you get to customize the ritual to suit your personal preferences and religious tradition.
Let’s be real, life can be hectic and it’s easy to let prayers slide off the list of priorities. But just like anything else worth having, it takes effort and discipline. That’s where developing the habit of praying comes into. It gives structure and accountability to ensure that we’re connected to 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 before going to going to bed. Test and see what works for you.
Once you’ve determined the best time to pray then you can begin building your daily routine. Here’s an illustration of a typical daily routine for morning prayer:
Begin by addressing God and asking for his presence while you read and pray.
Take a chapter from the Bible and then meditate on it for a while. This can be accomplished by reading the passage three to four times, or writing down the things it says about yourself, examples to follow, commands to obey or promises to claim.
Structure your prayer by making confession, adoration as well as petition and thanksgiving. Pray for your needs and pressing concerns as well as taking time to sit in the presence of God.
The great thing about the prayer time routine is that it is customizable to suit your needs. For some, you may have only just a few minutes and others could have an hours or longer. The key is to make it a regular element of your day-to-day routine. If you don’t make it through one or two days do not fret! You can get back on track the next day.
A daily prayer practice is an excellent opportunity to begin this new year feeling a renewed belief in the purpose of your life and a feeling of connection to the divine. It’s an effective way to start your day, keeping your eyes upon the Lord and aligning your thoughts and actions in accordance with His plan.
Another way to increase your prayer time is to create a more interactive. Instead of simply reciting words, try to engage with God in a deeper way. Make use of your imagination and try to picture the scenes described by the Bible. Make an effort to experience the emotion of each character and put yourself in their shoes. This makes your time of prayer more meaningful and personal.
It is also possible to incorporate different types in your prayer daily routine. For example, try silent prayer, contemplative prayer, or even writing down your prayers. This can keep your prayer routine from becoming boring and will add some variety to your daily spiritual routine.
One of the most effective methods to keep yourself focused and in line with your daily prayers is sharing your practice with other people. Find a accountability partner either a close friend or family member who can check in with you and help you to keep to your schedule. They may even join you in prayers and share their own experiences.
Remember, the goal of a daily prayer practice is to strengthen your relationship with God and make sure that your thoughts and actions are aligned in accordance with His plans. It’s not about perfectionism or following a strict set of rules, it’s about being intentional and consistent in your spiritual life. So, take the time to discover a prayer practice that is a good fit for you and make it a priority in your daily life. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make on your spiritual growth as well as overall wellbeing.
Now we have gone through that lets look at some of our top daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Lord, I am exhausted and don’t know what time this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this obstacle. Please help me quit trying to run away from my pain, and instead race with a sense of endurance the race you have laid out for me. I know that because of you I am ultimately an ace over the struggles throughout my journey. I am confident that nothing will ever be able to be able to separate me from your eternal love. Please show me some of your unconditional love today; give me the strength to stand through this challenge. Thanks for the unconditional love for me that never ends! Thank me for your crown of happiness that I will enjoy forever with you in the Kingdom of Heaven! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me courageous spirit as I move through the day. If I’m tempted to quit, help me keep going. Give me a positive outlook when things don’t go as planned. 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, Praise You for the sky and the sun, as both of them remind us of an exciting new day and chance to pursue You. Thank You for reminding us that it’s not necessarily easy but that you don’t have to carry the pain into the next day. We are sorry for focusing in the past and keeping grudges. Bless our hearts to be free of any limitation as we seek You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Meg Bucher
4. A Daily Prayer of Rejoice
Father Thank you for being a part of the story into my world and permitting me to have an intimate relationship with God. Thank you for allowing me to have a personal relationship with. Thank you for your love for me now and for the rest of my life. Thank for the blessings that you’ve bestowed to me as well as my loved ones. We can use these blessings to be a blessing to others. May I live a lifetime filled with joy when I witness you working around me today! In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. for guidance from the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray you will move the Spirit more boldly throughout my daily life. I am aware that any sin can grieve and weaken the voice of the Spirit and I ask for protection against temptations to sin. Help me to seek Your Presence more often than I want sin. Help me grow in the fruit from the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from Your Spirit- let your will and promises always be a meditation of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Kenny Luck
6. For God’s Grace Daily
Lord, thank God for your abundance grace that is abounds. We thank you that we don’t need to work for a drop of the mighty stream of mercy that flows in abundance to us right now. We thank you for the unexpected and undeserved favor you’ve bestowed on my life. Help me to put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me to not forget the disciplines I need to keep in contact with you frequently and take a drink of the waters 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 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. Please forgive me when I judge myself against others, forgive me for wanting things that aren’t yours and your kingdom. Thanks for being with me just where I am, right as I am. Help me keep my eyes on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Nicki Koziarz
8. Prayer Against Distractions Today
As I get ready for the day, help me remember that I belong to you and that my goal is to live in accordance with your will. Make sure my feet don’t slip and my mind from wandering into distractions that could steal precious time and energy from the most important things that you have designed for me. I’m so proud to be your child, Lord. And I’m thankful that you gave your life for me — rising again on your own new morning–so that every day could become filled with the beauty 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 I am so sad and burdened. I’m feeling like I’m forced to carry the burden alone. Words like overwhelmed, devastated exhausted and frightened are the words that describe the state I’m in. I’m not sure how to let you carry my heavy load, so please show me how. Let me take it off. Let me rest and be revived 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 want to hear from You. Today, I make the commitment to start having an hour of silence each day. I will be attentive to Your voice above all of the other voices in my life. Lord, show me how to focus my attention on You. Help me follow whatever You tell me. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Mary Southerland
11. Rely on God Today
Lord, we ask today to continue to work with Your Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Lord, it is easy to get consumed with the fears which surround us We know That just like Your gaze is focused on the sparrow, so are You concerned for and see us.
Help us today to be more reliant on You. Give us a deeper awareness of Your ways of working, so that we may be able to understand that everything that we see in our natural eyes isn’t all there is. We ask today for eyes to be able to see Your hand in all things, and hearts open to Your work. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer: Walk with God
Dear Lord, I love You. All that I’ve expressed above is the love from my soul. I acknowledge that there are times when my actions and reactions go against my devotion to You. Please forgive me. Thanks for your mercy that is able to recognize this day as a chance to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Lysa TerKeurst
13. A Morning Prayer for God’s Guidance
Thank You Lord for helping me remember the difference in my life when I spend time for You my first priority in the morning. Awaken me in both my body and spirit every morning with the desire to meet with You and to be able to hear Your 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 I pray that you will illuminate my eyes with truth, inflame my heart with love, inspire my will with courage, and enrich my life with service. Forgive me for what I’ve done, sanctify what I am, and order 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 for the fact that ALL work is important because work is beneficial. I pray that I can bring glory to you by my actions and words, as well as by the work I do to bring order to my small corner of the world. Help me see my job as a blessing and not a curse. I need your grace and strength to face the most difficult aspects of my work. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. – Renee Davis
16. A Morning Prayer for Cares and Concerns
Our Father is dear to me in Heaven So much of 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 that I tend to pick them up and they cause more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares 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 to hear you saying, “I am your hope” over all other voices. Lord, according to your word that you are the one who can bring hope to the despairing, therefore I’m running to you with both hands extended and holding your hand. Fill me up with faith and provide me with concrete proof of the fact that hope is an unbreakable line of spiritual support (Hebrews 6:19-20). God You know the things that are in my heart I can’t even begin to imagine hoping for, today I give the things I have to you, I believe in you and request that you do it as I am sure that you can do more than I can ever think, imagine, or even imagine 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 would like to believe that you’re there with me and that I am known and loved from you… but some days, it’s hard. Help me to speak the truth in your Word back to myself. Let it flow from my heart towards my heart. I ask you to give me peace and courage to live like an awe-inspiring warrior – for you’ve already given me victory over every obstacle and hurdle. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Establish the work of my hands by encouraging me be productive and patient, focused and insightful. Keep me free of distractions and keep me away from technology that is 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. Teach me to align my personal, professional and church life with rest in a manner which will increase your glory , and let me produce the highest fruit for your kingdom.
While I work, keep my eyes on Jesus and his task on his cross which gave me treasure that I could not acquire, peace that I could not otherwise be able to experience, and a new faith that will inspire me to strive for God’s glory. God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you everyone!