Building a Consistent Prayer Life
Waking up every day to repeat the same routine can feel overwhelming at first. But this repeated action is what we call a “habit.”
Over time, your mind adjusts, sending signals to your body that this pattern is now part of your life.
Building a new habit often falls into two categories: dropping something negative or picking up something healthy.
But, surprisingly, it’s easier to develop negative patterns than positive ones—especially in matters of the spirit within God’s kingdom.
How many times have you heard these resolutions? “I’m going to quit smoking.” “I’ll exercise every day.” “I’ll read a book each month.” Or “I’ll stop eating sugar.”
These are great goals, but for a new habit to stick, it has to be worth the effort.
It’s often easier to eat than to fast, to lie than to tell the truth, to spend recklessly than to save—and yes, it’s easier to do almost anything else than pray.
Most of us excuse our lack of prayer with busy schedules: work, errands, chores, family time, and the pursuit of eight hours of sleep. Where’s the time?
But how can we claim to love God and neglect talking to Him?
Prayer is an expression of love and worship, an acknowledgment of our dependence on Him.
Think about your loved ones or spouse
Every morning, you greet them with “Good morning.”
You ask about their well-being, show affection, and sometimes give small tokens of appreciation.
Yet, we often ignore our Maker, the One who gave us life.
When we sideline God, thinking we can handle life on our own and only call on Him in tough times, we set ourselves up for trouble.
Without God, we can do nothing.
Prayer strengthens our relationship with Him. It’s a beautiful father-child bond, more precious than anything else.
And when we invite His Spirit to dwell within us, the benefits are immeasurable.
So, do you want to spend more regular time in prayer? Do you want to pray with more focus and intention?
Prayer is simple, and worth every effort!
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer is Worth Every Effort
Prayer is simple, but making it a consistent habit can feel challenging.
We often struggle with short attention spans, discouragement, exhaustion, or even doubts about whether it’s worth the effort.
However, building a prayer habit begins with recognizing your need and desire for God.
When we realize how deeply dependent we are on Him for every aspect of life, prayer becomes natural.
It’s not just about big moments—it’s about inviting God into the small, everyday details.
You might find yourself praying for strength to get through a tough meeting, energy to make it through the morning, or even wisdom to choose the right outfit for the day.
Prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate.
You don’t need to immediately engage in intense spiritual warfare or “kabash in the Spirit.”
As you prepare for the day, take a moment to thank God— for waking you up, giving you a safe place to rest, and for blessing you with a fresh start ahead.
Ask for His guidance and protection as you go about your day.
When you return home, thank Him for your day—the people you met, opportunities that came your way, and the lessons you learned.
You can also use meal times as an opportunity to pray for your co-workers, family, friends, and neighbors.
The more intentional time you spend in prayer, the easier it becomes to make it a regular part of your life.
You’ll soon discover countless moments throughout your day to start a conversation with God.
These small prayers build intimacy and help you stay connected to Him.
Remember, it’s not about the length of your prayer but the sincerity of your heart.
Even the simplest prayer, spoken from an honest heart, can move God.
In those days when you pray, I will listen.
If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Do Not Be Afraid to Pray
If you’re anything like me, there was a time I was afraid to pray in tongues.
I worried I wouldn’t say the right things or that I wouldn’t say them the right way.
But I learned to let go—to surrender my tongue and allow the Holy Spirit to take over.
Don’t be afraid to express yourself in prayer.
You have permission to speak directly to God. He is always listening, and He welcomes you just as you are.
There is no wrong way to pray. You can pray anytime, anywhere. Come into God’s presence with a heart that longs to connect with Him honestly.
He desires to hear from you. All you have to do is begin.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
How Should We Pray?
The question of how we should pray is one that many people—especially new believers—often ask.
Who better to answer this than Jesus Himself?
His teaching on prayer is far simpler than many of the traditions and complexities that have been added over time.
In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus teaches His disciples (and us today) that prayer is about fellowship with God—through praise and supplication—without the need to be seen or noticed by others.
Similarly, He warns against using vain repetitions, thinking that we will be heard because of our many words.
And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get.
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Matthew 6:5-6
At its core, Jesus teaches that prayer is about intimacy and connection with God—not about appearing holy before others, nor about the length or eloquence of our words.
Think about this: When we have a sincere relationship with someone, we spend time with them because we enjoy their presence—not to impress others or to gain status.
This is exactly what God desires from us.
He wants us to pray because we long to be with Him, not out of obligation, but out of love and delight in His presence.
Do You Know About ACTS?
Over the years, I’ve built my prayer life using the ACTS model, and it might be helpful to you as well.
A – Adoration:
In adoration, we praise God for who He is—all-wise, ever-present, loving, gracious, merciful, all-powerful, and so much more.
I call Him beautiful names, not because He needs flattery, but because it reminds me of how remarkable and capable He is.
“God, I praise You because You are…” (list as many attributes as you wish).
C – Confession:
Confession is about acknowledging the ways we have fallen short—both knowingly and unknowingly.
I ask God to search my heart, forgive me, and help me turn away from sin. True confession leads to repentance, a commitment to change.
“God, I acknowledge that I have not completely honored You with my words and actions. Please forgive me for… I repent and will take steps to turn away from sin. Thank You for Your mercy.”
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my shameful deeds— they haunt me day and night.
Psalms 51:1-3
T – Thanksgiving:
In thanksgiving, we reflect on the specific ways God has demonstrated His love and blessings in our lives.
We express gratitude for life, grace, provision, relationships, opportunities, and every good thing we have received.
“Lord, I thank You for…” (feel free to list all the things you’re grateful for).
S – Supplication:
Supplication is when we bring our requests before God—both for ourselves and others.
Jesus encourages us in Luke 11:9 to “ask, seek, and knock.”
This could mean asking for wisdom, strength, healing, provision, or guidance in a decision.
It’s also an opportunity to intercede for family, friends, and even strangers.
“God, I pray that You would intervene in the following situation(s)…”
The ACTS prayer method is a great place to start if you’re new to structured prayer.
As you grow in your prayer journey, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you and watch how your connection with God transforms!
Commit to Being Intentional
“I know, I know… I’ll start praying.”We all say this. But if we don’t commit to it, it simply won’t happen.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a morning person or a night owl—what we set our minds on when we wake up shapes the course of our entire day.
On the days I don’t take time to reset my heart with Jesus, I notice a difference.
I’m less patient with my friends and family, less grateful for my circumstances, and more preoccupied with what the world thinks.
But when we start our day with Jesus, we’re far more likely to continue our day with Him.
How do we convince ourselves that we’ll “fit Him in later” if we can’t even pause to meet with Him before the phone starts buzzing, or work demands our attention?
May you be encouraged to make prayer a daily habit. God hears you.
And when you start seeing Him move in response to your prayers, you’ll find it easier to keep praying.
Trust. Obey. And keep living like Christ here on earth.
Maranatha!
