Cultivating a habit of Prayer

“I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10

Starting a new habit seems to fall into one of two categories: dropping something negative or picking up something healthy. How many times have you heard these resolutions? “I'm going to quit smoking.” “I am going to exercise every day.” “I am going to read a new book each month.” Or “I am going to stop eating sugar.” These are all good things, but—in my experience—for a new habit to stick, it has to be easy to do and worth the effort.

Prayer is easy to do, but making it a regular habit can be difficult. We sometimes have short attention spans, feel discouraged or exhausted, and wonder if it’s worth the effort.

Mary Kate Morse addresses motivation to pray in Guidebook to Prayer: If we pray because we should or because we need something, the motivation for a life of prayer is weak. However, if we pray to experience God and to grow, the motivation is stronger. Prayer can redirect anxiety to hope, bitterness to freedom, insecurity to courage, and stuck-ness to vision. We feel ourselves in the living water of Christ. We hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit guiding us. We know the presence of God (p. 17).

Putting prayer into practice could start with a simple short prayer first thing in the morning while you are getting yourself ready. Thank God for the safe space to sleep, a new fresh start, and ask him to guide you during your day. You could also spend a few extra minutes praying before each meal; praying for your co-workers and neighbours. The more intentional time you spend in prayer the easier it will be to make it a regular habit.

We have permission to speak directly to God. We can all pray; there is no wrong way to pray, we can do it anywhere, and we don’t need anything to do it. The apostle Paul challenges us to “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2), and to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). When we pray, we enter into communion with our Savior, listen to his leading, and savour his grace.

Dr George Washington Carver overcame racial prejudice and became an educator, scientist and inventor who was honoured by the U.S. Congress. He was also a follower of Jesus. And here's what he had to say about prayer: 'My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, daily and often many times a day to permit me to speak to him...I ask him...to give me wisdom, understanding and bodily strength to do his will; hence I am asking and receiving all the time.'

Carver gave the world many inventions and was most famous for what he could do with peanuts. He stood on the truth of these Scriptures: 'I will go before you and make the crooked places straight' (Isaiah 45:2). 'Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know' (Jeremiah 33:3). 'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10).

Pay particular attention to Carver's words: 'I am asking and receiving all the time.' Prayer was not his last resort, but his first choice. To him, it was more than religious ritual; it was a means of constant communication with the God he loved, sometimes talking and sometimes listening, but always sensitive to and aware of the presence of God. And daily prayer should be that for you too.