Somewhere along the line, you just stopped. Whereas you used to always have time to pray, it seems that life just kept demanding more of that time. For a while, you would think about it and lament how busy or tired you are. You would go to bed and think of praying after you were under the covers. Then you would fall asleep.
If it has been a long while, you may have even stopped thinking about praying. Things are going well. There is so much going on in your life. But now you are reading an article about how to start praying again on our blog (www.handsofgodchurch.org). It seems you are thinking about praying again now.
That’s great! Fortunately for us, God is like one of those friends you might not see for a long time until someone dies or gets married. As soon as the two of you are in the same room again, it’s as if you were just talking yesterday. So the first thing you have to do is get yourself in the same room with Jesus.
Theoretically, that should be easy. God is omnipresent. You just have to recognize Him. Some people can visualize Him at their side at all times of the day. He is driving with you. He is helping dry the dishes or separating the laundry. He is watching television with you
Perhaps it is better to have a special place where you know God and you will be alone and not likely to be interrupted. That could be at the foot of your bed or sitting at a desk. A sitting area in the backyard or a quiet porch may be nice.
Some will benefit from a more formal setting. Head to the church and sit down for a while. You can talk to Jesus while walking or sitting through a local park or other walking path.
Your bigger challenge may be carving out time for regular prayer. A big mistake people make is to try to pray right before going to bed. At the end of the day, you are tired from the daily grind that kept you from praying for so long before. Your intention may be to pray at the bedside, but it is just too easy to slip under the covers and tell Jesus you owe Him extra time tomorrow.
It is far better to schedule time during the day. Fit Him in somewhere. God is not particular. He is totally okay with double-tasking. You can pray while you work out or go for a walk. You can pray while driving to and from work. But seasoned prayer warriors will always tell you that how to start praying again is to make a time carved out for just the two of you.
Sometimes it helps to let others know that you will be doing something special at a certain time. Maybe you can tell the children not to bother you for thirty minutes after supper. Let friends know you will not answer the phone at a certain time each day. Turn off the television and find a quiet place without your cell phone.
It won’t always seem to work. Don’t get discouraged. It is not uncommon to find your mind wandering to tasks or events or relatives you miss. God is still listening. Maybe those things are bothering you and God can help. Prayer is a conversation. You can talk about anything. If you have a great idea or solve a dilemma during your prayer time, maybe your mind wasn’t really wandering after all.
So if you’re thinking about how to start praying again, you’re already on the right track. Keep pushing and don’t let false starts, busy schedules, or a wandering mind dissuade you. Talk to God all day in informal prayer. Keep Him in your mind and soon you will find yourself making time to pray just like you used to.
