Developing a Consistent Prayer Life
- Daughter of Increase
- May 12
- 6 min read
Sis, if you've ever felt uncertain about how to pray, you're not alone. Prayer can feel intimidating when you're just starting—like you're not sure what to say, if the words you are using are correct, if you're doing it “right,” or if God is really listening.
But here’s the beautiful truth: God isn’t looking for perfect words or sounds. He’s looking for a willing heart.
Whether your prayers are long or short, whispered or written in a journal, God desires real relationship with you. Prayer is simply a conversation with your Heavenly Father. And like any relationship, the more time you spend together, the stronger it becomes.
In this post, you'll learn simple, practical steps to help you develop a prayer life that’s consistent, meaningful, and deeply rooted in Scripture.
1. Know Why Prayer Matters
Prayer isn’t a religious ritual. It's not a to-do on a checklist. It's not a "get to heaven quick scheme." Sis, prayer is how we communicate with God and grow closer to Him. Jesus Himself prioritized prayer throughout His life on earth (see Matthew 14:13, Mark 1:35, Mark 1:45, Luke 5:15-16, Luke 6:12-13, and several other Scriptures you can find.). If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do we?
“Pray without ceasing.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
This doesn’t mean we’re on our knees 24/7, but it means we cultivate a heart that’s always connected to God. We can pray while cooking, working, walking, driving, in the shower, and in the midst of every activity we do. Keep your heart open to prayer.
Prayer keeps us centered in His presence and dependent on His strength.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” — Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Reflection Question:
What has kept me from praying consistently in the past—fear, distraction, time, uncertainty?
2. Start Small and Realistic
Like any habit, consistency builds over time.Don’t feel pressured to pray for an hour every morning. Start where you are—5 or 10 minutes a day in a quiet space.
You might try:
Morning prayer before the day begins
Writing prayers in a journal
Short prayers throughout your day (“breath prayers”)
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”— Psalm 5:3 ESV
Even your small, sincere prayers are precious to God.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8a ESV
Reflection Question:
What time of day works best for me to intentionally connect with God in prayer?
3. Use a Prayer Structure (If You Need One)
If you're not sure what to say, try using this simple structure to guide your prayers:
A.C.T.S.
A – Adoration: Worship God for who He is
C – Confession: Be honest about your sins and ask for forgiveness
T – Thanksgiving: Thank God for His blessings and presence
S – Supplication: Bring your needs and the needs of others before Him
P.R.A.Y
P – Praise: Express gratitude and admiration for who God is.
R – Repent: Acknowledge and confess sins and wrongdoings.
A – Ask: Make specific requests or petitions for needs and desires.
Y – Yield: Submit to God's will and listen for His guidance.
H.E.A.R.T 1
H – Honesty: Be honest about your sin, as well as any doubts or fears you might have.
E – Endurance: Continue to seek God even when things are tough.
A – Awe: Give reverence and respect for who God is.
R – Repentance: Turning away from sin and towards God.
T – Trust: Trust God to lead and guide you.
H.E.A.R.T 2
H – Honor God: Start your prayer by honoring God for who He is. Include Jesus and the Holy Spirit if need be. Contemplate the attributes of God.
E – Examine your life: Examine your life and ask God to help you see any areas where you need growth. Ask Him to forgive your sins and to help you do better in the future.
A – Ask for help: Now is the time for you to ask God for help with the things that are important to you. Ask Him to guide you and to protect you, to help you in your relationships, and to give you the strength to overcome your struggles.
R – Request for others: Intercede for others. Ask God to bless them, to protect them, and to meet their needs.
T – Thank God: End with a heart of gratitude and thank God for His love and care. Thank God for being faithful and for always hearing our prayers.
I'm sure there are many acronyms and prompts for prayer; don't be afraid to search them out and use them.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”— Philippians 4:6 ESV
Using a structure doesn't make you less of a disciple than the next person. Use those prompts if needed. Better you have a structure to help you rather than praying amiss and aimlessly.
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” — Matthew 6:8b ESV
Reflection Question:
Which part of prayer feels the hardest for me right now—praising, confessing, giving thanks, or asking for help?
4. Keep a Prayer Journal
Writing down your prayers will help you stay focused and build your faith when you look back and see how God has answered.
Try including:
Daily prayers
Scripture-based prayers
Praises and answered prayers
Honest thoughts and struggles
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”— Psalm 143:5 ESV
Your journal will become a testimony of God’s faithfulness over time in your life and will be a legacy of faith to leave behind for generations to come.
Reflection Question:
How would writing out my prayers help me stay consistent and focused?
5. Be Honest and Trusting
God isn’t asking you to come to Him with perfect language or polished emotions. He already knows your heart. What He desires is your honesty and surrender.
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”— Psalm 62:8 ESV
Come to Him with joy, fear, anger, confusion, tears, pain, or doubt. Sis, He welcomes it all.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us...” — Romans 8:26 ESV
Reflection Question:
Have I been holding back in prayer, trying to sound a certain way?
What would change if I let myself be completely honest with God?
Sis, prayer is a gift that we have and an honor. Don't hestitate to pray to your Father about any and everything. Let's pray together about this:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of prayer. What a privilege it is to come before You humbly and boldly. Help us to grow in consistency, not out of duty, but out of desire to know You more deeply. Teach us to bring everything to You—our joys, worries, sins, and dreams. Thank You for listening, even when we don’t have the right words. Holy Spirit, when we don't have the right words to speak and express, continue to intercede for us before the Father. Lord, strengthen our prayer life day by day. We trust that as we draw near to You, You will draw near to us. In Jesus’ precious and Holy name we pray, Amen.
Sis, remember that consistency in prayer isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. The more time you spend with God, the more natural it will become. Your prayer life doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It just has to be real and rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ and God.
So Sis, today, just take one step. Pray for five minutes. Whisper a thank-you. Write one sentence in your journal. Know that God is listening—and He loves hearing from you.
What’s one way you’re going to grow your prayer life this week? Leave a comment and let’s encourage each other!
Comments