Are you willing to take your spiritual journey to the next level? One of the most effective ways to do that is to establish a regular prayer habit.
Think of it as your spiritual workout, just as you workout to stay fit, regular prayer 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 daily lives. However, with a bit of planning and effort it is possible to create an effective prayer schedule that works with your lifestyle and schedule. And the best part is, you get to customize the ritual to suit your personal preferences and spiritual tradition.
Life can be hectic and it’s easy to let prayer get lost on the priority list. Like everything other thing worth having, it requires effort and discipline. This is where the creation of a prayer routine comes in. It gives structure and accountability to ensure that we’re in contact with God on a regularly.
How do you begin? The first step is to figure out what time of day 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 bed. Try it out and discover what works for you.
Once you’ve identified the ideal time to pray then you can begin to build your routine. Here’s an example of a pattern that you can follow daily for prayer in the morning:
Begin by addressing God, ask for his blessing while you read and pray.
Read a passage from the Bible and then meditate on it for a while. It can be done by reading the passage three to four times or by listing everything it reveals about yourself or examples to follow, commands to obey or promises to make.
Make your prayer a ritual by offering adoration, confession, petition, and thanksgiving. Make a prayer for your urgent needs and concerns as well as taking time to sit in the presence of God.
The great thing about the prayer time routine is that it’s customizable to fit your needs. For some, you may have only a few minutes to spare, while others may have an hour or more. It’s important making it a constant part of your daily routine. And if you miss one or two days, don’t sweat it! You can get back on track for the next day.
An everyday prayer practice is a wonderful way to start your new year off with a fresh belief in the purpose of your life and a feeling of connection to the divine. It’s a powerful way to start your day, putting your focus on the Lord and aligning your thoughts and actions to His plans.
Another method to improve your prayer practice is to enhance it by making it more engaging. Instead of just reciting 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. Make an effort to experience the emotion of each character and place yourself in their shoes. This can make your time in prayer more meaningful and personal.
It is also possible to incorporate various forms of prayer into your daily routine. For example, try a silent prayer, contemplative prayer or even writing your prayers. This will keep your prayer routine from becoming boring and will add the variety you need to your spiritual practice.
One of the most effective ways to remain engaged and focused on your daily prayers is sharing your practice with other people. Find a partner in accountability either a close friend or family member who will be checking in with you and encourage you to keep to your schedule. They may even join you in prayers and share their own experiences.
Rememberthat the purpose of a regular prayer routine is to deepen your relationship with God and make sure that your thoughts and actions are aligned to His plan. It’s not about perfection or adhering to an unwritten set of rules, it’s about being consistent and deliberate in your spiritual life. Therefore, make the effort to find a prayer routine that works for you and incorporate it in your day-to-day life. You’ll be amazed at the impact it has on your spiritual growth as well as overall wellbeing.
We have now been through that let’s check out some of our favorite daily prayers:
1. A Morning Prayer for Strength
Dear God, I’m tired and don’t know when my “race” will end in my life. It seems as if I’ve run for ages trying to conquer this challenge. Help me stop trying to outrun my pain, and instead race with endurance the race you have laid out for me. I know that thanks to you, I will be a victor over the trials that I face in life. I know that nothing can be able to separate me from your eternal love. I ask you to show me a bit of your unconditional love today; give me the strength to endure this challenge. Thank you for your unconditional love for me that never ceases! And thank to you the chance of joy which awaits me for eternity within your kingdom! – Adrian Rogers
2. A Morning Prayer for Courage
Lord, grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through this day. When I’m tempted quit, help me persevere. Help me keep a positive attitude in the event that things do not go my way. 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, thank You for the sky and the sun, for they both give us the new day’s challenges and chance to pursue You. Thank You for reminding us life is not all easy. But, it is important to remember you don’t have to carry the pain to each day. We are sorry for dwelling on the past and for keeping grudges. Thank You for our hearts that are not unhindered by anything as we seek You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Meg Bucher
4. A Daily Prayer of Rejoice
Father, thank you for intervening into my world and permitting me to establish a an intimate relationship with God. Thank you for allowing me to have a personal relationship with. Thank you for your unconditional love for me today and forever. Thank you for the blessings you’ve provided me and my family. Let us make use of those blessings to bless others. May I live a life filled with joy when I witness you working all around me! In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
5. To receive guidance From the Holy Spirit
Lord, I ask you would influence the Spirit more strongly in my life. I am aware that any sin can grieve and diminish the spirit of the Spirit and I pray against the temptation to sin. Help me to seek Your Spirit more strongly than I desire sin. Help me grow in the fruits from the Spirit and walk in 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, we thank you for your abundant grace, abundant grace. Thank you that we don’t need to work for a drop from the great flow of grace that flows unreservedly to us right now. Thanks for this unplanned, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me to put myself in the path of your kindness and love. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly 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 I ask you to help me appreciate my life as it is in the present. Show me the good things that I overlook, and help me to be happy with the things I have. Forgive me when I judge myself against others, forgive me for longing for things that aren’t yours and your kingdom. I thank you that You love me just where I am, just where I am. Help me keep my eyes 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 my desire is 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 you have planned for me. I am proud to be your child Lord. And I’m so grateful that you died for me–rising again on your own new day–so that my every day can be filled with the joy of the love you have for me, the freedom of your Spirit, and the delight of being a part of your family. – 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 seem to describe my current state. I am not sure how to allow you to carry my weight, so please let me know how. I’ll take it away. I’m going to rest and be refreshed to ensure that my heart doesn’t be so heavy in the morning. In Jesus’ name. Amen. – Ron Moore
10. To Focus on God’s Voice
Father, I must hear from You. Today, I make the commitment to begin an hour of silence 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, 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 for more of Your Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Lord, it can be easy for us to become consumed with the fears which surround us, but we know That just like Your eye is focused at the sparrow so do You look after and look out for us.
Teach us today to become more dependent on Your help today. Bring us into a greater awareness of Your ways of working to help us gain a greater understanding that all we see with our eyes isn’t all there is. We ask today for eyes to see Your hand in all matters and hearts that are open to Your work. Amen. – Callie Logan
12. Morning Prayer to walk with God
Dear Lord I love You. Everything I’ve written above is the desire of my heart. I admit that at times my actions and my reactions betray my devotion to You. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your forgiveness that is able to recognize this 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
Thank You Lord for helping me to remember the difference to make spending time with You an absolute priority in my morning. Awaken me in both my body and spirit every morning with the desire to be with You and hear You speak words of affirmation, faith and wisdom to my heart 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 I pray that you will illuminate my mind with the truth, ignite my heart with compassion I want to be inspired by your love, and by courage, and fill my life by serving. Please forgive me for the things I’ve done, sanctify what I am, and establish what I shall be. Amen – Author Unknown
15.. A Prayer for the Work Day Ahead
Father, thank for all the ways you’ve blessed me, specifically by this job that provides me with a paycheck and food on my table. Thank you for the fact that ALL work has significance because the work you do is rewarding. Help me bring you glory today, through my actions and words, as well as through the good efforts I make to make my small corner of the world. Help me view my work as a blessing and not an affront. Help me to have strength and grace for the hardest aspects of my work. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. – Renee Davis
16. A Morning Prayer for Cares and Concerns
Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my personal life has been broken. I am overwhelmed with worries and worries and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up and again, and they only add to my stress and anxiety. Please help me learn to place my burdens on You , as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Chrystal Evans Hurst
17. For Hope Today
Help me, Lord to hear you saying, “I am your hope” over all the other voices. Lord, according to your word that you are the only hope for the hopeless, and I’m rushing to you with both my hands spread out and grasping on to you. Fill me up with optimism and provide me with a tangible reminder today that hope is an irreplaceable eternal lifeline (Hebrews 6:19-20). God, you know those things that are in my heart I am unable to even imagine wishing for. Today, I offer them 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 can ever guess, imagine or request in my wildest hopes (Eph 3:20). God I am your 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’m known and loved by your love… But sometimes, it’s difficult. Help me speak the truth of your Word back to myself. Bring it from my head towards my heart. Bring me peace and courage to live like a conqueror – because you’ve already given me victory over every obstacle and hurdle. Amen. – Amy Green
19. For a God-Honoring Work Day
Set the task of my hands by encouraging me to be efficient as well as patient, focused and sharp. Keep me free of distractions and keep me away from technology that is slowing my work rather than 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 and church life with rest in a manner that will maximize your glory , and let me bear the most fruit to further your kingdom.
While I work, keep my attention on Jesus and his work on the cross which gave me treasure I could not earn, rest that I would not normally experience, and a living hope that will fuel me to strive for to glorify God. Amen. – Kevin Halloran
God bless you all!