Prayer is the Christian's lifeblood. Without prayer we will not be able to connect and commune with God. The quality of our prayer life determines the quality of our relationship with God. As such, it would be good for us to establish and develop a good habit of prayer.
But how do we establish a good prayer habit? What do we need to do to have a discipline of prayer? Here are a few tips to establishing a good prayer habit.
1) Do it like Jesus did
The Lord Jesus Christ will always be the best role model for anything Godly and, of course, Christ-like. If we want to establish a good prayer habit, we ought to do it like Jesus did.
The Lord Jesus lived and breathed prayer. Praying was, is, and will always be so natural to Him. We should learn from Him.
The Gospels show us that Jesus prayed alone, in public, before and after making miracles, early in the morning, and late in the evening. He didn't simply establish a set time for prayer. He made sure that He prayed every time He had an opportunity to pray.
In fact, He made opportunities to pray. Mark 1:35 gives us one example:
"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."
2) Pray like Jesus prayed
Prayer is simply the act of communicating with God. It's two-way communication: God talks, we listen; we talk, God listens. Jesus modeled this for us perfectly.
Ever noticed how the Lord Jesus prayed? He simply talked as if He was in a conversation with a person, only that this Person was God Himself.
John 17 gives us a whole chapter where Jesus prayed to His Father. When we read His words, we notice that there's no formula, no incantation, no magic words whatsoever. He merely spoke to His Father. Let's read how He prayed for His disciples and see for ourselves just how intimate His prayer to God is:
"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them." (John 17:6-10)
3) Do what Jesus said
If we are to establish a good habit of praying, we ought to know how to and what to pray for. Thankfully, the Lord Jesus gave us instructions how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, saying:
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
The Lord Jesus gave us a pattern to pray after. We honor and reverence God; We submit ourselves to His will and ask that His will would be fulfilled; We declare our dependence on Him and ask for His provisions; We continually repent of our sins daily; We ask for His protection and help over our lives; and we declare His glory.
