The Habit of Daily Prayer: Building a Life-Changing Conversation with God
Prayer is more than just asking God for things - it's the most important communication you can have with the most important person in the universe. Just as poor communication can have deadly consequences in our earthly relationships, a lack of consistent prayer can have devastating effects on our spiritual life.
Why Is Daily Prayer So Important?
Prayer is communication with God, and like any relationship, communication is vital for growth and survival. You cannot view prayer as optional in your relationship with God. He cannot be the only one speaking - you must also speak to Him.
If you know Christians who seem to have their spiritual lives together, they have one thing in common: solid prayer lives. Prayer builds your relationship with God and encourages spiritual growth.
How Should We Pray? Six Biblical Ways
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Luke 11:1-13, giving us the model prayer. From this passage, we learn six essential ways to approach God in prayer.
1. Pray Worshipfully
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name'" - Luke 11:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Begin your prayers by recognizing who God is. It's a privilege to call God our Father - consider the alternative of having Satan as your father. We have an honored Father with a holy name.
Don't bring God down to your level. Jesus isn't your buddy, and the Father isn't your homeboy. He is holy, exalted, and beyond measure. Start each prayer by praising God for a specific attribute - His love, mercy, justice, holiness, omniscience, or omnipotence.
2. Pray Submissively
"'Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'" - Luke 11:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Whose kingdom? Whose will? Not ours - His. When you pray for God's kingdom to come, you're asking Him to save as many people as possible and to rule in hearts everywhere.
The hardest phrase in this entire prayer might be "Your will be done." You may desperately want God to answer a specific request, but submissive prayer means saying, "God, whatever Your will is, I submit to it."
3. Pray Daily
"'Give us day by day our daily bread'" - Luke 11:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
This prayer is meant to be prayed every single day. It acknowledges our complete dependence on God for our daily needs. Do you take for granted that you have a job, health, transportation, or that your needs are met each day?
The word "give" indicates that ultimately, your daily needs are met by God alone. It's not your efforts or merit - it's God's grace and goodness that provides everything you need.
4. Pray Contritely
"'And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us'" - Luke 11:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Even though you're eternally forgiven as a Christian, you should confess your daily sins and shortcomings to God. Like any relationship, there must be acknowledgment when you're wrong for the relationship to grow and flourish.
"'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness'" - 1 John 1:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
God already knows about your sin anyway, so why hide it from Him? Confess it and get it right. When you refuse to acknowledge sin, your spiritual life suffers.
5. Pray Persistently
Jesus tells a parable about a friend who keeps knocking at midnight until his neighbor gets up to help him. The lesson? Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.
"'Yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs'" - Luke 11:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
Persistent prayer isn't about God being reluctant to answer. It's about the work being done in your own heart. How much do you want what you're asking for? How close to God are you willing to get before He answers your prayer?
6. Pray Expectantly
"'So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you'" - Luke 11:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
Notice it doesn't say "ask and it might be given" or "seek and perhaps you will find." The promise is certain: ask and it WILL be given, seek and you WILL find, knock and it WILL be opened.
The verbs "ask," "seek," and "knock" are in the present active tense, meaning keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. The Lord will answer.
What About God's Willingness to Answer Prayer?
Jesus uses the analogy of earthly fathers to show God's heart toward us:
"'If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'" - Luke 11:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
If sinful human parents know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will a perfect heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him?
The Ultimate Prayer Request
The greatest prayer you could ever pray is for salvation. Jesus promises that your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
"'For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved'" - Romans 10:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
If you can trust God with the greatest need of your life - salvation - don't you think you can trust Him with the lesser needs you face?
Life Application
If you're not in the habit of daily prayer, start today. Set aside time each morning or evening - wake up 15 minutes earlier or stay awake 15 minutes later. Make an appointment with God and treat it like the most important appointment you could keep.
Here are practical steps to develop your prayer life:
Set a specific time and stick to it
Keep a prayer list (electronic or written)
Categorize your requests (family, friends, church, missionaries, etc.)
Keep a prayer journal to clarify what you're asking God for
Read books on prayer to deepen your understanding
Questions for Reflection:
Do I have a consistent daily prayer time, or do I only pray when I need something?
When I pray, do I begin by worshiping God for who He is, or do I immediately jump into my requests?
Am I willing to submit to God's will even when it's different from what I want?
What specific needs have I been persistent in praying about, and how has that persistence drawn me closer to God?
Your spiritual life will stagnate without consistent prayer. Make the commitment this week to pray more intentionally, more faithfully, and more fervently. Prayer isn't just about getting things from God - it's about getting closer to God Himself.