Are you looking to take your spiritual journey to the next level? One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to establish a regular prayer habit.
Think of it as your spiritual workout. Just like hitting the gym to stay fit, an everyday prayer routine can keep your soul strong and in tune with the divine.
The most difficult aspect of prayer is making it a constant part of our life. But with a little bit of planning and effort it is possible to create a prayer routine that works with your lifestyle and schedule. And the best part is, you are able to modify it to match your own personality and spiritual tradition.
Let’s be real, life can be busy and it’s easy to let prayer slide off the priority list. However, just like everything else worth being a part of, it requires dedication and discipline. This is where the creation of the habit of praying comes into. It gives an order and accountability to make sure we are connected to God on a a regular basis.
So, how do you begin? It’s the first thing to do is decide the time of day that works best for you to pray. Some prefer to begin their day with prayer while others prefer to pray in the evening before going to going to bed. Experiment and see what works for you.
After you’ve decided on the most appropriate time to pray, you can start to build your routine. Here’s an illustration of a typical daily routine for morning prayer:
Begin by approaching God and asking for his help while you read and pray.
Take a chapter from the Bible and meditate on it. This can be done by reading it three or four times, or listing the things it says about yourself, or the examples you can follow, instructions to obey , or promises to claim.
Structure your prayer by making confession, adoration, petition, and thanksgiving. Prayerfully address your needs and pressing concerns and then take time to be in God’s presence.
The best thing about a prayer routine is that it can be adapted to suit your needs. Some people may only have some minutes, while others may be able to devote a whole hour or more. The key is to make it a consistent part of your daily routine. If you fall off the occasional day or two do not fret! You can get back on track the following day.
The practice of daily prayer is a wonderful method to begin your new year off with a renewed belief in the purpose of your life and a spiritual connection with God. It’s an effective way to begin your day by placing your attention to the Lord and aligning your thoughts and actions with His will.
Another way to increase your prayer routine is to make it more engaging. Instead of just reciting phrases, try engaging with God in a deeper way. Use your imagination and try to visualize the scenes in the Bible. Try to feel the emotions of the characters, and put yourself in their position. This can make your time in prayer more personal and meaningful.
It is also possible to incorporate various forms prayers into your routine. For instance, you can try silent prayer, contemplative prayer or even journaling your prayers. This will keep your prayer practice from becoming repetitive and provide some variety to your daily spiritual routine.
One of the best methods to keep yourself motivated and on track with your prayer practice is by sharing the practice with others. Find a partner in accountability either a close friend or family member who can check in with you and help you to keep to your daily routine. 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 ensure that your actions and thoughts are in line with His will. It’s not about perfection or adhering to an unwritten set of guidelines, but rather being consistent and deliberate in your life of faith. Therefore, make the effort to discover a prayer practice that you enjoy and make it a priority within your everyday life. You’ll be amazed by the difference it can make on your spiritual growth and overall health.
Now we have completed that, let’s look at some of our most-loved daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Dear God, I’m exhausted and I don’t know what time the “race” will end in my life. It seems as if I’ve run for ages trying to conquer this trial. Please help me stop trying to outrun my pain and instead run with endurance the race you have set for me. I am confident that because of you, I will be a victor over the trials in my life. I am certain that nothing will ever be able to separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your unconditional love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thanks for the devotion for me that will never end! Also, thank to you the chance of happiness that awaits me forever with you in the Kingdom of Heaven! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me winsome courage as I go through my day. When I am tempted to quit, help me keep going. Help me keep a positive attitude even when the circumstances don’t seem to go my way. Also, give me the strength to complete whatever must be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
– Dr. Ray Pritchard
3. Prayer to Seek God Each Day
Father, praise You for the sky and sun, for both remind us of a new day’s challenge and opportunity to pursue You. Thank You for reminding us that life is not necessarily easy but that we don’t have to carry the hard into the next day. Please forgive us for dwelling in the past and holding onto grudges. We thank You for allowing our hearts to be held back by nothing when we seek You every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Meg Bucher
4. A Daily Prayer of Rejoice
Father Thank you for being a part of the story in my life and allowing me to have the privilege of a relationship with you. Thank you for the love you have 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 all around me! In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. for guidance by the Holy Spirit
Lord, I pray you to be able to move the Spirit more strongly throughout my daily life. I know that every sin could irritate and diminish the spirit of the Spirit and I pray not to fall prey to commit sin. Help me crave your Spirit more strongly than I crave sin. Help me develop the fruits of the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from Your Spirit. Let your word and promise 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. Thank you that we do not have to earn a single drop of the mighty stream of mercy that flows freely for us today. We thank you for the unexpected generous, undeserved blessing you’ve lavished on my life. Help me to put myself in the direction of your kindness and love. Help me not neglect the things I must do to attend to you on a regular basis and to 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 my life as it is in the present. Let me know the good things that I tend to overlook and help me to be happy with my life. Forgive me when I think I am comparing myself to others, and forgive me for wanting things that aren’t yours and your kingdom. I thank you that You love me exactly where I am, just as I am. Help me to keep my eyes fixed towards you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Nicki Koziarz
8. Prayer Against Distractions Today
As I start this day, help me to remember that I am a part of you and I want to live in accordance with your will. Make sure my feet don’t slip and my thoughts from drifting into distractions that may steal precious time and energy away from the most important things that you have planned for me. I am proud to be your child Lord. And I’m thankful that you died for me–rising from the dead on your new day, so that each day could be filled with the beauty of the love you have for me, the joy of your Spirit and the joy of knowing that you are with me. – Rebecca Barlow Jordan
9. A Prayer for a Heavy Heart
Father, my heart is heavy. I feel like I have to carry this burden by myself. Words like depressed, overwhelmed exhausted, and distraught seem to be the best description of the state I’m in. I am not sure how I can let you carry my weight, so please let me know how. I’ll take it away. Allow me to rest and become revived so that my heart won’t be as heavy in the morning. In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I want to listen to You. Today I take the pledge to begin a quiet time each day. I will seek Your voice above all of other voices that surround me. Lord, teach me how to focus my life around You, and help me to follow what I hear You say. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Mary Southerland
11. Rely on God Today
Lord, we ask today to continue to work with Your Holy Spirit in our lives. Lord, it’s easy for us to be consumed with the fears that surround us in life We know that just as Your eyes is focused upon the sparrows, so do You care for and watch over us.
Help us today to be more reliant on You. Bring us into a greater awareness of Your ways of working, so that we may gain a greater understanding that what we see with our eyes is not all that is. Today , we pray for eyes to be able to see Your hand in all things and hearts that are open to Your mission. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer to Walk with God
Dear Lord, I am in love with You. Everything I’ve said above is the desire from my soul. I acknowledge that there are times when my actions and my reactions betray my devotion to You. Please forgive me. I thank You for the grace that allows me to see the new day as a new chance to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Lysa TerKeurst
13. A Morning Prayer for God’s Guidance
Dear Lord, help me remember what a difference it makes to make spending time with You my first priority in the morning. Awaken me in both my body and spirit every morning with the desire for a time of fellowship with You and listen to You speak affirmations, confidence, and wisdom over my heart as I get ready 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 mind by truth, enflame my heart with compassion, inspire my will with courage, and enrich my life with service. Please forgive me for the things I’ve done, sanctify what I am, and order my future. Amen – Author Unknown
15.. A Prayer for the Work Day Ahead
Father, thank for all the ways you’ve blessed me particularly through this job which provides me with a paycheck and food on the table. Thank you that ALL work is meaningful because the work you do is rewarding. I pray that I can bring glory to you by my actions my words, and by the job I do to bring order to my small part of the world. Help me to see my work as a blessing, not as a curse. I need your grace and strength for the hardest 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 in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and worries that make me feel heavy. When I am tempted to put my worries on You, I find I usually pick them back up again and they cause additional stress and anxiety. Help me to place my burdens on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Chrystal Evans Hurst
17. For Hope Today
Lord, help me hear you say, “I am your hope” over all other voices. Lord, your word says that you are the only one who can bring hope to the despairing, therefore I’m running towards you with both hands stretched out and grabbing on to you. Bring me back to hope and give me an actual reminder of the fact that hope is a spiritual lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God knows those things that are in my heart I barely dare to hope for. Today, I offer these things to you. I believe in you and I ask you to do so as I am sure that you are able to do more than I can ever think of, imagine or ask for 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 want to believe that you’re there with me and that I am loved and respected by you… However, sometimes, it’s difficult. Help me to communicate the truth of your Word back to me. Take it from my mind to my heart. Give me peace and wisdom the courage to be a conqueror – because you’ve already won me victory over every obstacle and hurdle. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Make my work easier on my hands by encouraging me be productive, patient, focused, and insightful. Refrain 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 family, work and church activities, as well as rest in a manner that would maximize your glory , and allow me to be the best fruitful for your kingdom.
While I work, I will keep my eyes at Jesus and his finished task on his cross, which provided me with treasures I couldn’t earn, peace that I would not normally experience, and a living hope that will fuel my desire to pursue to glorify God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God Bless you all!