Forming New Prayer Habits

Have you ever found yourself in need of a new routine? Noticed that what you’re currently doing isn’t quite working? You know there’s a better way to move forward, but haven’t put the effort into finding it? 

Recently I have felt convicted to spend more time in meaningful prayer. There’s been a lack of intentionality, discipline, and if I can shamefully admit, respect for our almighty God on my part. I often feel myself rushing through my prayers to check them off my “good Christian” to-do list or  falling asleep during my nighttime prayers and every wake up is spent trying to pick up where I left off. Some days I pray to God all throughout the day; others I forget all together. My prayer time felt too informal. I do believe that our gracious God hears even those hastily thrown together, sloppily-spouted prayers. But He deserves more from me and I know I can do better.

God deserves me spending more than a few moments with Him; falling to my knees in honor and reverence, choosing my words thoughtfully on my own and others’ behalf; praising His goodness. I want to not only honor God with my prayers, but pray with tenacity on behalf of my family and friends. Prayer is a gift that God blessed us with; a time when we can come to Him and ask for miracles only He can perform, seek His favor for our family that could last generations, call on His divine wisdom and counsel, or simply relax and just take a breath. God is deserving of so much more than a respectful prayer from me, but it’s a place to begin. 

After pondering if it was too extreme (because yes, that thought entered my mind) I decided I needed a prayer space. A space that I can commit to praying. Typically for me this would be in the evening before bed. Although I pray and talk to God all throughout the day, I wanted my time before bed to be the most intentional. That’s the time that the kids are in bed and I have a moment of calm to focus. So once this idea took root, I decided to then look to social media for inspiration. And I will say, wow! Some of the spaces people have imagined are quite grande. I truthfully just desired something simple. I didn’t want to unnecessarily allocate funds to this little project nor can I make any space too flashy, lest it draw the kids’ attention and be no more. Subtle was the path to take. 

I found an old, chipped end table not being used in the garage, a painted bulletin board from my teen years when I asked my mom to makeover my room in lime green and hot pink with black accents (the aesthetic of my adolescence), a few decorative pieces hidden around the house, a pillow from an old bed set, a bible from church, and some envelopes. Essentially, what some would consider junk. Is it Pinterest perfect? No, but it fits its intended purpose just fine. 

Now, do I think that I needed a special prayer space in order to pray to God? Do I think that God will only hear my prayers in this space? Do I think my prayers are more special in this space than others? No. No to all of these questions. That was not the point of this space. I needed a space to help my stubborn habits form anew. A space that is in my very direct path every night. A space for me to purposely claim the power that God has given me through prayer. 

So if you find yourself in need of committing to a new prayer routine, consider making a sacred space for just that. Try not to get too caught up in the prettiness of it and focus on what would make the space meaningful. 

I have spent nights here praying before bed and am so happy I made this space. I’m more at peace knowing I’ve thoughtfully prayed over my family each night without dozing off. I’ve given anxious thoughts to God to hold for me while I sleep. I’ve sought wisdom and discernment, forgiveness, and interceded for others. So much goodness has come from that time. A mundane collection of odds and ends repurposed into a dedicated space to meet our eternal and holy God.