Three Helpful Prayer Habits

 

Several years ago I visited a prayer room in a Modesto CA church, identified with a sign over the door: The Furnace.

I stepped over the threshold, entering a space saturated by prayer, filled with intercessors. I sensed a powerful presence of God. Tears flowed. I began to pray.

The Holy Spirit fueled the Furnace, and what happened in the Furnace fueled the church. The atmosphere invited prayer, because in this room, prayer happened consistently, passionately, habitually.

My experience continues to influence my time with God. I witnessed how a habit of prayer in a specific place, at a specified time, created a response of prayer.

I wondered what could change in my life and my home by adopting a few prayer habits.

Choose a Prime Time

Prayer isn’t about an appointment to keep, but a relationship to enjoy. I love how God interrupts my day, surprising me with moments of grace, inviting me into spontaneous prayer.

Be open to praying anytime, anywhere. Also remember, choosing a consistent time to pray encourages a lifestyle of prayer.

The psalmist stated his best time, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you” (63:1). The word earnestly means first thing in the morning, first in order of priority.

Like the psalmist, many people enjoy God-time before daily events crowd their schedule, before turning on the morning news, checking social media, reading emails, or eating breakfast.

But if morning isn’t ideal for you, find a time when you can give God undivided attention.

Since he neither slumbers nor sleeps, every moment is morning to him.

Choose a Welcoming Space

For the past 15 years, my spot has been a walk-in closet adjoining a bedroom. It might not seem like the most comfortable place, but I don’t mind sitting on the floor (I got that from my dad).

It’s separated from household responsibilities. I’m less likely to be interrupted, since reaching my secret place requires opening several doors.

In the darkened seclusion of my closet, I block out distractions. I can’t see pillows to fluff or pictures to straighten, and I’ve learned to ignore the clutter of shoes on the floor.

I turn on the light to read Scripture. I turn off the light to listen to God.

Your spot might be a space in your bedroom, a chair in the corner of your family room, a place at your kitchen table or a favorite spot on your patio.

Wherever you choose, go there often.

In time, entering your space will signal prayer.

Choose to Model Prayer for Children

For parents with younger children, an uninterrupted prayer time is almost impossible.

One mom uses her children’s nap time as her quiet time. When they awaken early, she sits them next to her with a book until she finished her time with the Lord.

This mom found her girls, on separate occasions, propped in her bed with Bible and pen. Each child told her they were having their God-time, just like her.

My mom and dad modeled prayer for our family. My mom chose a corner of the sofa where she read and prayed. My dad prayed aloud in his room, kneeling by his bed.

Hearing my father pray gave me a sense of security. I trusted God to meet the needs of our family because my dad asked him to. I learned prayer because I grew up seeing and hearing prayer modeled.

Prayer habits are not for the purpose of forcing prayer. Prayer habits are to fuel prayer-passion in our lives, our hearts.

Our homes and our hearts can become a Furnace for prayer.

What prayer habits have you formed? How have they helped you? I’d loved to hear. You’ll find the comment section at the beginning of this post.