5 Ways to Jump-Start Your Prayer Life

I don’t know about you, but I can really struggle in my prayer life. It’s something I know I should do, and I really want to! But, sometimes I feel like Paul when he was struggling with following God’s instructions.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do…For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:15, 18 niv

I’m not sure what my hangup is, but I decided this was the time to overcome it! So, in order to do that, I started looking into a few ways to get into the habit of prayer. I hope (and pray) these tips will not only get my prayer life jump-started but yours as well!

1. Just Pray!

Sometimes I get hung up on rules and feeling like I have to pray ‘perfectly‘ – whatever that means! I have a tendency to question everything. (Take a look at this post to see what I mean!)

How do I start? What should I say?Am I doing it right? What should I be doing differently? Am I being reverent enough?

I get overwhelmed by all the thoughts running through my head, and I stop before I even get started.

Again, I know that’s not what God intends, but I need to figure out how to work past that.

I think the answer is to just pray. God wants a relationship with His children. There are many verses in the bible that talk about Him wanting us to draw closer to Him.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people and I will be their God, for the will return to me with all their heart.
Jeremiah 24:7 niv

God created relationships. If we are His children, wouldn’t he want a close relationship with us?

Of course!!

So, if God is a loving and caring God, it is just as James said –

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
James 4:8 ESV

2. Use Jesus’s Model

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us his day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As we also forgive our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

Even the disciples were unsure of how to pray! In Luke 11:1, one of them said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus taught them. He gave the perfect model.

I use this example when I get stuck in the vicious cycle of doubt and inaction. At those times I just say the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.

Saying this prayer helps me in a number of ways. Not only does it get me talking to God, it reminds me of who He is.

He is my Father. Worthy of praise and adoration. He is loving and giving. Forgiving and our greatest helper.

In a previous post, How Should I be Praying Anyway?, I shared how Priscilla Shirer translated the Lord’s Prayer into an easy to follow pattern for prayer.

3. Get a Good Book on Prayer

In addition to Fervent by Shirer, another book I recently started reading is The Heart of a Woman Who Prays, by Elizabeth George. I was introduced to George and her many books through a friend, and am so happy for the recommendation!

As I began reading the book, it was as if she was in my head! All of the feelings I have had, the excuses, and the fears, were all written on those first few pages. She begins by suggesting 10 reasons why women don’t pray. Many of them hit a little too close to home. I was definitely convicted, but they really showed me where my heart was.

George not only provides common excuses but also various ways to overcome them and persevere in our prayer lives.

One of the reasons she lists is as a reason we don’t pray is inexperience.

We don’t pray because we don’t pray! And because we don’t pray, we don’t know how to pray…so we don’t pray. It’s a vicious cycle.
The Heart of a Woman who prays, p. 45

I have seen, (even after only a few days reading this book), how powerful it is to acknowledge the thoughts and feelings that have been running through my head. And then – the next important step – is to break that cycle, move forward, and PRAY!

4. Start a Prayer Journal

Something that many people have recommended is a prayer journal. When I first heard about these, I got a little overwhelmed. If you do a google search, myriad options come up. Probably because there are just that many ways to create one!

In her book, George says to just grab a notebook with paper and start writing. There is no right or wrong way to create one. This was super freeing for me! As someone who has a million notebooks and journals, all designated for different things, the thought of creating yet another one seemed like just one more task.

I have found (thankfully!) that just isn’t the case! I grabbed a new spiral notebook, labeled it my Prayer Journal, and just started writing out different things that were on my heart.

Turns out, I can pray!

And, through writing, I can keep my thoughts focused on Him and all of the things I want to talk to Him about. It really is freeing and I am excited to look back and see how God answers prayers. (Even if it’s in ways I can’t even imagine…)

5. Find a Prayer Partner

I pray with others regularly. At first, it was a bit awkward – not gonna lie. But, over time, it got easier and easier. I began to realize these people were not judging me or the quality of the prayer. Once I got over my pride and feelings of discomfort, I have begun to see how beneficial Prayer Partners truly are!

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:6 NIV

Partnerships are visible throughout the bible – from Genesis into the New Testament. God never intended for us to walk through life alone.

Knowing that someone else knows your struggles and is praying for you is a wonderful thing! In addition, they can help keep you accountable. On those days when you might not feel like praying, they can provide encouragement and help keep you on track in your prayer life.

I also believe it can provide an avenue to receive Godly advice. I have a close relationship with the women I pray with. They know me – the whole me. They know my sinful tendencies and have given me helpful and practical advice when I have been struggling with one issue or another. I am so thankful to have such wonderful women in my life!

What I learned, and am still learning…

Prayer is difficult, yet easy all at the same time. I may always wonder if I’m doing it right, but I truly believe God just wants me to continue to talk with Him.

In the end, it really is just that easy.