Making Time for Prayer

Our lives sometimes seem so filled with activity that it is easy to fall into the habit of thinking that there just isn’t enough time for a prayer life. If praying is important to you, here are some suggestions for making time for prayer.

Set a regular time for prayer. Treat your prayer time like an appointment you must keep and it will become a priority. When you schedule prayer time as part of your daily routine, it will become a habit. Try to pray in a place where you will not be distracted. This is your time for meditation and contemplation. When you have been calmed and restored after prayer, you will be ready to tackle the problems of the day.

Remember to always pray aloud. This causes you to pray in intelligent sentences and use complete thoughts. Speaking your prayer makes you concentrate on your words. If you have trouble remembering everything that has been on your mind, try jotting down your prayer topics. You’ll feel like there is more purpose and direction in your prayer time if you can stay focused. There is nothing wrong with using short, idle moments throughout the day for prayer. Simple prayers during these times can keep you centered on God. You can deal with specific needs you may encounter as they occur, without waiting for your scheduled time. A sincere prayer uttered while doing everyday tasks is just as powerful as a planned prayer.

When children observe parents in prayer, they learn the importance very quickly. Let children take part in prayer time, even for a few minutes, and they will develop an interest in their own prayer life.