Creating a Prayer Routine (& Sticking to It!)

We were not created to just helplessly dodge thing after thing life throws our way. If you are born in Christ, you are a new creation; and with that, you’ve been given new tools to help you in this life.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus has overcome the world and when we surrender our lives to Him, He creates a way for us to walk in peace here on Earth even as we face the trials and troubles of this world.

I believe that sometimes we can lost sight of the fact that this world is not our homes; we are citizens of Heaven, temporarily placed here to make much of Jesus while we’re here.

One way to do that is to create some solid prayer rhythms that are part of the fabric of your day.

Here are 3 Ways to Build Prayer Rhythms into Your Day

Pray in the Morning

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:3

~ I think the habit of praying in the morning can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. If you aren't a morning person, simply praying something like, "God thank you for today, I surrender this day to you." can be effective for drawing awareness to God's presence and nearness in your daily life.

Pick 1-2 Scriptures to Commit to Pray Over your Life each Day

~One of the things that transformed my prayer life the most was picking scripture that spoke to whatever I was struggling with and praying it OUT LOUD daily.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

When my husband and I got married, I was mesmerized by how freely he worshipped God and how he walked so confidently in God's love because He had seen God meet him time and time again when he was in the consequences of sin in his life before he knew God. He had seen the power of God in His own life and because of that His love for Him was evident in the way he worshipped him.

I grew up wearing the badge of "good girl" proudly. I grew up in an environment that put a big emphasis on "be good.... one wrong choice could ruin your reputation forever..." and honestly pretty focused on legalism and religion over the relationship aspect.

So I had pride and religion deep in my bones and I desperately wanted to break free from them. I had put so much pressure on my performance as a "good Christian" that I had placed my faith entirely on my own shoulders. In crying out to God, I began praying the following verses out loud:

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

Do you know what happened? God began to shift things in me and rescue me from a spirit of Religion. Because there is power in the word of God when we claim it in our lives, and it begins to seep down into our bones and marinates in our spirit. Daily, I spoke out loud that I had died and my life was hidden in Christ. I began to truly understand that it isn't even about me, because I'm dead and am hidden behind Christ in me.

Scripture when we pray it out loud, shifts our focus and our hearts towards God's truth and it's just powerful.

Pray without ceasing...

Prayer was never intended to be an isolated item to check off of a to-do list, but instead a way to connect with our Heavenly Father and support our brothers and sisters in the faith.

" Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer is a conversation with God. Just talk to Him throughout the day.

When your kids are driving you wild and you don't know how to respond, pray.

When you and your husband get into a heated discussion and you aren't sure what words to say, pray.

When you are tired and weary, pray.

When you need God's strength, pray.

When you are happy and want to share it with someone, pray.

I'll leave you with this~

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

James 5:13-16

Need Help Creating Prayer Rhythms or Don't know how to Pick Scripture to Pray?

Jordan offers Prayer Strategy Sessions to help you do just that. Sometimes, just having a starting point can help push you into action. Book a Prayer Strategy Session today.