How to Have a Healthy, Fulfilling Prayer Life

Finds Team • 5 minutes

Let’s start with a question that might be a little difficult to answer. Ready?

How healthy is your prayer life?

If you’re like most people, you probably wouldn’t say your prayer life is perfect—because that’s impossible. But how do we know when our prayer life is healthy, and when it needs some help? That’s what we’re going to explore together in this prayer life checkup.

A Healthy Prayer Life Is Guilt-Free

Have you ever felt anxious about praying “enough” or “the right way?” If so, you’re not alone.

Maybe you’ve heard these famous Bible verses about prayer from the New Testament:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Is this a great verse? Of course it is. Can it also cause people to feel anxious about their prayer lives? Absolutely. On the surface, it seems to say that God’s will is for you to pray all the time. So, it can feel like we’re always falling short, never praying enough, and failing before we even try. But God doesn’t want us to live in guilt or shame. He wants to set us free from shame.

In context, this passage doesn’t say that if we don’t pray enough, God will strike us with divine vengeance. Instead, it encourages us to make a consistent habit of prayerful gratitude, thanking God for the good things in life.

If you feel guilty about your current prayer life, know that God isn’t mad or disappointed. Instead, He hopes you’ll spend time with Him through prayer so you can grow closer to Him.

A Healthy Prayer Life Is Consistent

Prayer is an opportunity for us to get to know God better, share our burdens, and find strength in His presence—and it’s best when we’re consistent. But what does it mean to be consistent?

Consistency looks a little different for everyone. For many, consistent prayer looks like establishing a daily habit of prayer. You might choose to pray in the morning, during your lunch break, or before you go to bed. When you pray doesn’t matter as much as making prayer a consistent habit.

Of course, no one is perfect, and it’s inevitable that you might miss a day—and that’s okay! Remember, we’re taking guilt out of the equation, and you can’t have a healthy prayer life if your main motivation is guilt. When you miss a day, remember that God isn’t mad at you and your faith isn’t ruined, and keep moving forward.

3 Tips to Help You Start Praying Consistently

Consistency can be hard. So here are a few quick tips to help you find consistency.

1. Start a Prayer Journal

What is a prayer journal? It’s a physical journal or notes app on your phone that supports your prayer habit. You use it to track prayer requests, record answered prayers, and keep a prayer list.

2. Set Up a Physical Prayer Space

Set up a physical space that invites prayer and reflection. This could look like one side of your kitchen table, your bed, or a special chair. A dedicated space can help you focus and feel more connected to God.

3. Set Prayer Goals or Focus Areas

Starting prayers can be hard, so you might consider setting a prayer goal or focus for each week, month, or the whole year. For instance, you might choose a month to focus on praying for your pastors, the healing of a loved one, peace in your country, or confidence in sharing your faith.

A Healthy Prayer Life Is Honest

Prayer isn’t a recital of your most theological language or a magic spell where you try to say the right words to get God to do what you want. Instead, prayer is an honest, open conversation with God.

While in prayer, you might thank God for all He’s done, ask for guidance, seek His strength, and request His help. God loves you, so nothing is too small for Him to care about. Bring your honest self to Him in prayer.

Remember, God is full of grace, so we don’t need to be afraid of Him. Instead, we can bring our struggles, confessions, and temptations to Him, knowing we’ll receive His support.

Ideas to Fuel Your Prayer Life

Everyone’s prayer life looks different, but prayer has the potential to draw us into a closer relationship with God. Here are a few ideas for practices, mindsets, and habits you can incorporate into your prayer life to make it personal and effective.

Pray Scripture: Find meaningful Bible verses like the Lord’s Prayer that you regularly pray out loud.
Pray Spontaneously: Turn any time into prayer time, like when you’re folding laundry, driving to work, or brushing your teeth.
Pray Together: Set a time to pray with friends, your small group, or family members to grow your relationships with God and others.
Pray With Example Prayers: Below, you’ll find a giant list of example prayers to kick-start your next prayer time.

Try Some Example Prayers

You Can Develop a Healthy Prayer Life

Anyone can have a healthy prayer life, so use these tips to get started today. Remember, healthy prayer isn’t driven by guilt. Instead, it’s driven by a desire to get to know God more each day. So keep seeking Him!