Follow these five tips for a stronger prayer life.
As I go through my busy day, many things occupy my mind. Most of the time I’m mentally scrambling, thinking, “what’s for dinner?” but more often than not, my brain is filled with questions and worries. I get too caught up in the “tyranny of the urgent” and forget to focus on the eternal.
What’s an over-thinking, over-analyzing woman to do?
The answer is pretty simple isn’t it? Instead of letting fear and confusion consume my thoughts, I should really be spending that time praying!
Yet the follow-through of this straight forward pep-talk I give myself fails to take place more often than I care to admit. Prayer should be an enormous part of our everyday life, but many times it slips by the wayside in favor of other thoughts or activities.
How often should we pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to “pray continually” and Isaiah 55:6 says to “seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him when He is near.”
The early Christians devoted themselves constantly to prayer (Acts 1:14). Paul spoke often of prayer in his epistles. King David constantly cried out to God in supplication in the Psalms.
Prayer strengthens our communion with God. Our feeling of closeness to Him increases when we bring our praises and requests to Him. It isn’t that we rely solely on our feelings, but I have found it true that my heart attitude and thoughts change when I’ve committed to (and followed through with) a consistent prayer time.
With so many thoughts crowding our minds, it may seem hard to remember to pray at first, but little reminders go a long way.
Five Surefire Tips for a Stronger Prayer Life:
1) Print several Bible verses from the Psalms on notecards and place them in strategic places in the house. You can then “pray the Psalms” while you are getting ready in the bathroom or washing dishes at the kitchen sink. Psalm 51 is a great place to start. Another favorite of mine to say out loud in prayer is Psalm 84:10-12.
2) Have a specific devotional time each day, for yourself and as a family. Make a prayer box to encourage different “types” of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS). Learn more about the ACTS prayer method in this post.
3) Set the alarm on your cell phone go off at a few times during the day with a reminder to pray.
4) Keep a list handy on your kitchen table of those who need prayer and go around the table praying with your family before or after a meal.
5) Children are great little prayer warriors. Find a few moments during the day where you and your children can sit quietly and remember others in prayer. Encourage them to imitate your words if they are having trouble praying out loud at first and be sure to emphasize that God thinks their prayers are important too!
***BONUS TIP! Journal your prayers! You can use a special prayer journal or just a plain spiral bound notebook. It’s amazing to me to look back and see how God answered prayers, even those I’d forgotten about!
The blessings of prayer are many! It is remarkable to see how God reveals His truth and His power to us during these times.
His will for us becomes clearer when we seek Him often rather than spending so much time rationalizing our own opinions.
And He does amazing things in the lives of those around us through our intercessions.
Imagine how God’s purpose can be accomplished and our minds and hearts renewed and refreshed as we seek His face for our families, our friends and the world.
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:10-11
One More Quick Prayer Time Suggestion
If you’d like to start writing down your prayers, consider this beautiful prayer journal from The Daily Grace.
She has amazing Bible studies and devotional resources for women and children (men too!).
Take a look at our 31 day devotional for praying over your children’s school year!
Find it HERE.
WANT TO SPEAK WITH GRACE TO YOUR KIDS INSTEAD OF YELLING?
16 Comments on 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
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It was a pleasure visiting your blog! Just started following you on pinterest. Pray is def so important. I love your idea about putting scripture verses strategically around your house. I use to put scripture cards in my car, and it is amazing how much scripture I was able to memorize. And I totally agree that kids are prayer warriors. Thanks for taking the time to encourage other people to grow in their relationship with God. God bless you and your family.
Thanks so much Grace! And that’s a great idea to put them in your car!! Blessings to you as well :)
“What’s an over-thinking, over-analyzing woman to do?” That’s so me too! Thanks for the reminder to seek God’s face instead of letting my fears or worries dominate my thoughts!
Thank you, Anna!
In our old house I had note cards randomly taped around our house with different prayer needs on them. I haven’t done that yet since we moved though.
I’d love it if you’d link this post up with my encouraging hearts linky. https://www.lessonsfromivy.com/2012/04/encouragement-in-trials-with-linky.html
That’s such a nice idea, to tape up note cards around the house with prayer needs. Thanks for commenting!
I keep Christmas cards and use them as reminders to pray for people. I only keep the ones I feel the Holy Spirit wants me to pray for.
Jenn, I must be honest. As I started reading your post I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me to PAY ATTENTION! LOL It was wonderful. Thank you for writing this post, it has helped me much. Prayer is an area I continually tell God I need to work on. And He continues to help me with it! :) -Nicole at Working Kansas Homemaker
Wow, that’s so awesome! God really gets a hold of us sometimes :) I’m so glad this was an encouragement to you!
Thank you, ladies, for YOUR encouragement :)
These are some awesome ideas!! I love the family prayer box idea and the suggestion to keep a little of prayer requests handy around the table to pray over collectively at meal times! Thanks so much for the encouragement to keep our prayer lives active and healthy!
Great encouragement! Seeing my prayer list helps me to pray for the requests throughout the day.
I struggle with this the most. I am always trying to find the time to pray. Thank you for the tips! Wonderful ideas.
Have a Blessed Day Jenn!