4 Steps to Starting a Daily Prayer Life

We’ve all been there. We understand why we should pray daily, and may even realize that we need to pray daily to feel sane.

But more often than not, our daily prayer-time consists of half-consciously saying some prayers before bed. Or sitting in the pew Sunday after Sunday resolving to ourselves and to God that we will not go a whole week without talking with Him, yet again.

Do you struggle to make time for a prayer life?

If this sounds like you, you are not alone! In our fast-paced culture, it’s no surprise that a busy professional finds it difficult to maintain a daily prayer-life. After all, it’s not like you can attend that 9 am daily Mass with all the retired people—at least not if you want to keep your job. The working world, sadly, is not built around a culture of prayer.

But guess what? Man is built for prayer. God has written into our hearts the desire for routine, for quiet, for communion with Him. Just like any other habit, building a daily prayer-life takes consistency and dedication.

Check out these steps on how to get your prayer-life off the ground:

1. Schedule in the time

Write down your daily schedule for a typical weekday. Now look for the gaps. Where in your day can you fit a 15-20 minute slot of quiet prayer?

It’s best if you can find the same time every day, and preferably not right before you go to bed. If you can’t find a spot, look at your mornings. What time do you wake up? Are you able to sacrifice an extra half-hour of sleep to get in some prayer-time before heading off to your daily grind? How about your evening Netflix binge? Maybe consider cutting that short, and making time for prayer before leisure. Or what about your commute? That bumper-to-bumper might be the perfect time for a rosary.

Yes, you might have to cut something out, but chances are you already have the time and just need to rework your priorities a bit. True relationships take sacrifice, and Jesus is certainly worth the sacrifice! From my experience, Jesus will reward and even multiply the time you give Him.

2. Location, location, location

“Come to me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)

Our Catholic faith enables us to encounter Jesus in a uniquely personal and real way through the Eucharist. If you’re able to spend your regular prayer-time at your parish, the Catholic church next to your office, or the one on your way home, you will be richly blessed. The graces the Lord pours into your heart through simply sitting in front of Him are immeasurable.

If regular prayer time in a church isn’t available to you, find a quiet place in your home that you won’t be easily distracted by. One of my favorite prayer spots over the years is the space in between the side of my bed and the wall, where I can curl up with my Bible and focus on a crucifix or holy image, letting the Lord speak to my heart.

3. Pray with scripture

St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

If the goal of your prayer life is to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus, scripture is the surest way to do it. I find it’s best to pick a “season” (such as the start of a new month, or a liturgical season like Advent or Lent) in which to begin reading through a book of the Bible, a chapter or two each day. Some great books to start with are Proverbs, Psalms, the Acts of the Apostles, or any of the Gospels. I also enjoy praying through the daily Mass readings.

Whatever you choose, don’t just read the words, pray with the words.

There are two ancient practices of praying that have made scripture come to life for me, lectio divina—the slow repetition of the passage, and Ignatian meditation—using one’s senses to “step into” the passage. Find which one you like best—trust me, the Holy Spirit will truly speak to you!

Remember:

“The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Heb 4:12)

4. Stick to it

What good is a plan if there isn’t any follow-through? The most important factor in the growth of your prayer life is your own will.

Don’t let this turn into another type of “New Year’s resolution” that goes by the wayside after a couple of days. It takes time to form a habit, with consistency and motivation being key. If you can make it past the first week, you’re much more likely to continue it for longer.

Accountability is another thing you can try to help stay on track. Find a friend or significant other to share your goals with (when, where, and with what you’re going to pray), and then ask them to check in on your progress daily. You might even end up inspiring your accountability partner to up their prayer game too!

Remember, man is made for prayer. Ask God for the grace to grow your relationship with Him, do your part, and let God lead the rest!