Practicing prayer is a powerful way to grow closer to God. Discover meaningful prayer practices, from breath prayers to journaling, and build a consistent prayer life that strengthens your faith.
Prayer practice and routines are our lifeline to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We need these times to press deeply into the life-giving waters He offers. But many of us struggle to find an effective way to establish consistent prayer practices.
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”
Max Lucado
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What are some Ways to Pray?
Prayer is one of those mysterious yet vital parts of the Christian life. It is a faith practice of prayer that strengthens our relationship with God. Many believers seek different ways to deepen their prayer life, whether through breath prayer, imaginative prayer, or engaging with a structured prayer book.
For me, my process of praying is very black and white. At times I have a great prayer rhythm. In these moments, I feel confident that God hears my pleas. Other times I am way off-key, and it seems my prayers hit the ceiling and fall flat.
For some, prayer comes naturally, while others struggle with consistency. Building a sustainable daily prayer rule helps ensure that prayer becomes a natural and transformative habit, allowing us to dwell in the presence of God.
How do I talk to God?
Prayer is a conversation with our Heavenly Father. Our prayer time should ebb and flow throughout the day, from morning prayer to evening prayers. Each moment of silence, each heartfelt request, and each short prayer is an opportunity to express gratitude and tune into God’s voice. In the name of Jesus, we are invited into deep friendship with our Creator.
We also get the privilege of tuning into His words for us to help make life and the lives of those around us a little less crazy and much more beautiful. This skill doesn’t come easily, however.
Practicing Prayer
When I first began curating my prayer practices, it felt messy and awkward. Through trial and error, I discovered a rhythm that not only helped me express my personal prayers more effectively but also allowed me to experience God’s ongoing transformational work.
My intention in creating my prayer routine was to enhance communication skills so that not only did I trust that God was listening, but I also was sure I allowed adequate time to hear Him. What evolved was a list of simple hacks for organizing prayer time that can be incorporated easily into everyday routines. It has since become an invaluable part of my lifestyle.
Here are the prayer practices and hacks!
1. Choose Your Prayer Time
For months I tried to pray first thing in the morning. The idea of giving God the first fruits of my day seemed like it was what I was supposed to do. However, the logistics of this never seemed to work for me. Mornings are hectic, and I found it hard to devote the time I wanted to. So I pray in the afternoon. The bottom line here is, unless you hear the holy spirit explicitly give you time, the critical aspect is you are dedicating time to get away with your Father.
Establishing a dedicated prayer time is essential. Some find morning prayer the best way to begin their daily lives, while others prefer quiet moments of evening prayer. Whether you follow Jesus’ own practices of early morning solitude or carve out time in your busy schedule, consistency is key.
If you are looking for practical ways to organize your morning time, you can find my entire morning routine resource here, and download the morning printables by clicking the image above.
2. Prepare your Prayer Space
Where we pray has endless possibilities because our Father in heaven can hear us wherever we are. Whether it is our morning commute in heavy traffic or on vacation, God is listening to the cares of His children. But because this is a conversation between an all-loving God and His easily distractible children, there are some aspects of our prayer space that can make our prayer time more impactful.
Creating a space free of distractions helps cultivate a habit of prayer. Your space might include a prayer journal, a planner page for tracking requests, or a Bible passage to meditate on. The goal is to establish a setting where the peace of God can fill your heart and mind.
Your prayer space should be somewhere in your home that is peaceful, comfortable, and distraction-free. Maybe it’s an extra closet in the house where you can throw some pillows and a blanket on the floor to pray, perhaps it’s just your favorite recliner, or reading nook you create. Wherever your space is, it should be somewhere you can go to build your prayer time routine.
3. Keep a List of Prayer Requests for Each Day
Tracking prayer requests allows you to be intentional about interceding for others. Whether you use a prayer practice journal, a digital note app, or a traditional notebook, writing down specific needs strengthens your faith and helps you see God’s hand at work.
If you are like me, sometimes the busyness of life gets in the way. I notice areas in my life I am struggling. I speak with friends who are in need. The news breaks my heart. But when I get my determined prayer time, I can not remember all of the specific things I wanted to pray about, so I pray a general “Jesus, help us all” prayer and hope to do better the next day.
When I first began strategically organizing my prayer life, being specific in prayer was hard. I focused so much on how to say the words that I ended up sounding exceptionally religious and minimally genuine. My side of the conversation seemed as if I was speaking to an acquaintance and not a lifelong companion. My fear of saying the wrong thing made my prayers stiff and meaningless. Generalizing my needs and desires decreased my chances of seeing God move in my life because I didn’t know what to expect when His answers came.
So here is the hack, write down your prayer needs as you progress through your day. When you see someone in need, or you promise to pray for a friend, add it to a running list on a note app or in your planner. Now, you have a precise list of requests to pray.
4. Create a Quick Reference Scripture Box for Use During Prayer Time
I love praying through the scriptures. For example, if I know someone is struggling with fear, I like to pray 2 Timothy 1:7 over them.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Some scriptures are embedded in my heart. Other times I need to peruse the scriptures and see what the specific Rhema word is for a situation. For this, I use a little note card box organized with scriptures relating to different subjects. I will peruse this box of scripture on a particular topic. Its sort of my version of a concordance.
I was given this little scripture jar by one of my Sunday School students this year and I love to take it out and read those scriptures when my heart needs a refresh. It’s easy to organize the verses because of the color coordination!
Many believers find spiritual growth through praying Scripture. The Old Testament and New Testament alike provide powerful prayers that align our hearts with God’s will. A quick reference scripture box (or jar!) can be a great way to incorporate biblical truth into prayer time.
5. Write Down Your Prayers
I love journaling my prayers. Journaling prayers has been a transformative practice in my spiritual disciplines. It helps track prayer requests, recognize answered prayers, and express gratitude. It’s been the easiest way for me to cut down on the extra chatter that goes on in my mind during prayer. It also gives me an evolving account of God’s answer to those prayers. My faith grows whenever I read through my prayer journal and realize I’m reading answered prayers. It is a personal account of God’s faithfulness.
I like to keep a few items, such as my bible, a notebook, pens, and notecards in and around my prayer space to aid in the process of prayer.
You could even use premade cards like these to track prayers.
The prayer journal template below is an excellent way to write your prayers down and see God’s handiwork in your life. They can be used in conjunction with other prayer journals or individually to create an ideal prayer space. Click on the image below or here.
6. Keep a Distraction Log
Do you ever find your mind wandering during prayer time? Maybe it’s the grocery list or a conversation the went wrong during the day. These distractions take us out of the moment and lead to wasted prayer time. To minimize time spent on distractions, I keep a distraction list. When something comes to mind randomly, I write it on a scrap piece of paper to handle later.
Prayer Practices Tips
Prayer is an invitation to commune with Almighty God. It is a formative aspect of our spiritual lives that aligns us with God’s ongoing transformational work. Whether you prefer a structured approach with a daily workbook or a more spontaneous prayer routine, the key is to remain faithful.
As you embark on this journey, remember that prayer is not about perfection but about connection. The next day, when you come before God, do so with open hands, a willing heart, and trust that He is listening.
What’s your favorite way to pray? Let me know in the comments, and let’s continue growing in faith together!
These tips for practicing prayer have significantly affected my prayer life for the better. I am more confident in my relationship with God as I purposefully spend time speaking with and listening to Him in prayer! I also have a story of his faithfulness in my life at my fingertips!
Note- this article was originally written by Ashley of Undoubted Grace. It was modified extensively in 2025 by Rachael.
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