What do I pray? How often do I need to pray? How long should I pray?

The answers to these questions will vary for every individual, and there is no right or wrong answer. But it’s a lot like going to the gym. The more you go and the longer you stay, the more benefit you’ll see in your muscles. Some people go to the gym for an hour a day, every day, or more. Not everyone can spend 7 hours a week or more in the gym.

I will say this: prayer is more important than going to the gym. If you suffer from anxiety, depression, sleepless nights, or any other numerous negative emotions, you can build up immunity to these through prayer. And the more you pray, the stronger your immunity will be. God does delight in hearing our prayers; prayer does change things, but more importantly, it changes us.

Though prayer can be time-consuming, it can also be done while driving, doing laundry or dishes, mowing the yard, working out at the gym, and many other times, not just during a devoted time of the day. I recommend spending a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes in silence, uninterrupted, every morning in prayer. And if possible, at noon and again in the evening. I promise you this: if you spend 10 minutes a day, 3 times a day in prayer, it will change you for the better, and it will change the situations in your life that cause your distress.

Psalm 55:17 says, “Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”

I’ve heard it said that God cares more about prayer that is from the heart with few words than many words with no heart. Almost everyone has heard the model prayer, sometimes called “The Lord’s Prayer.” There are 66 words, and it takes about 20 seconds to pray. If we pray this prayer 3 times a day, that’s 1 minute a day in prayer. So, how do we pray for 10 minutes? Repeat the prayer out loud 30 times is one way. Or repeat the prayer out loud 15 times and then be silent and listen for 5 minutes.

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and He replied, “Pray in this manner”:

“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.”

I have written my own similar prayers that are 60 to 70 words in length and repeated them out loud 40 times, 2 to 3 times a day. 60 to 70 words is ideal because they are easy to repeat and easy to memorize. We can repeat them at the gym between sets. One could actually be praying the entire time at the gym. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. An hour at the gym and an hour in prayer. Repeating the prayers is like lifting weights, more reps means better tone and strength.

The article, “Hearing God” is about prayer and reading Psalms. This is an ideal way for morning prayer. Repetitive short prayers are ideal while driving or at the gym. Sometimes I also cry out to God, literally. In my house alone, I loudly proclaim my prayers for deliverance, for comfort, and for peace and I often feel immediate comfort in doing so.

Here is one of mine in a similar manner to the model prayer:

“Dear Heavenly Father, please hear my prayer.
I pray not only for myself but also for _____ (friend or family).
Remember and have mercy on them and on me
Thank you for all you have done for us
Forgive us our sins and help us to forgive.
Deliver us from Satan and all that is evil.
Convict us of sin and righteousness.
Bless us with wisdom, discernment, peace, and reconciliation.
Your will be done in all our lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

This is a very short and simple prayer. I pray this at times when I don’t know what to pray or when I’m feeling troubled and not sure what to pray. There are times when I’m feeling down, and I’ll pray or sing this prayer out loud 10 to 40 times before going to bed. I feel comforted, seem to sleep better, and feel refreshed in the morning when I wake up, and I’ll then start my day with prayer.

The more time we spend in prayer, the better equipped we are to handle the daily troubles that come our way. We ourselves become calm and less reactive to negative situations. Spending time in prayer also builds our strength to resist temptations and overcome addictions.

Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring comfort, strength, and guidance to our lives. By incorporating prayer into our daily routine, we can cultivate a deeper sense of connection with God and find peace in the midst of chaos. I encourage you to explore the power of prayer for yourself, and to make it a regular part of your daily life.

Thank you so much for reading this to the end. If you find it helpful, please share with your friends and family.