How to Start a Daily Prayer Habit

Image depicting a man praying
By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D.

Prayer is not just one of the things Christians do—it is the lifeline of our faith, our communion with God. Prayer is not about, "Father, I need this," or "Father, give me that." No! Do we only seek our dads when we need something? How do we relate with our dads? Is it only in times of need and want? Our prayer life shouldn't be based solely on placing demands or always requesting things from God.

If we want to pray, let it be where heaven meets earth, where the heart of man communes with the heart of God. Yet for many, starting and sustaining a daily prayer habit feels like a struggle. We have good intentions, but the distractions of life often rob us of consistency. We might pray today and fail to pray tomorrow because we are so soaked in with the issues of life.

But the truth you need to know is this: prayer is not about impressing God with many words, perfect rituals, or even hours of prayer. It is about relationship. Yes, you heard me right. Just like with our dads here on earth, we have a relationship before we start asking for things. You don't just stumble into your dad's path and start making requests when you have not kept a close relationship with him or even spoken to him. That doesn't add up. God wants a relationship with us.

This type of relationship can be built in a place of prayer, where you commune with God. And again, it's not about how well you pray to impress others. Is your prayer based on impressing people with nice speech or good English to show your ability to speak? Even someone who cannot speak can pray without being good in speech. It's not about good speech. God is not after your speech; He's after your heart and wants to have a relationship with you.

Jesus taught us, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6, NIV). Prayer begins with desire, not perfection. You don't need to have the perfect words to say or keep to long hours. Just start. You must not be perfect before you begin.

The instructions below are a guide to help you cultivate a daily prayer life.

1. Set a Time and Place

I don't think anyone can easily forget their meal. With the same approach you have toward your meal hours, fix a time daily for prayer. It could be in the morning before the day begins or in the evening before you rest. A quiet corner, your bedside, or even your office desk can become your prayer altar. Don't procrastinate. Don't say, "Well, I am busy today; tomorrow I will set a time aside." No, brethren. Tomorrow, the thing that kept you from praying today could happen again. But if you set a time, just as you already know when you will eat your next meal, it will help. Even in your busy schedule, you will still find time to pray. I know you always find time to eat. That's just a case in point. You can find time to pray too. You can do it.

2. Start Simple

You don’t need to begin with hours of intensive prayer. Start with 5–10 minutes. That will do for a start. Don't just pray; read a short passage of Scripture, give thanks, present your needs, and listen in silence. Over time, you will naturally desire more. I can attest to that.

3. Use the Psalms and the Lord’s Prayer

The Psalms are timeless prayers of joy, sorrow, repentance, and trust. Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer as a model (Matthew 6:9–13). These can anchor your prayer when you don’t know what to say. With these in mind, you can pick a prayer point from the Psalms, whether a prayer of thanksgiving, joy, sorrow, or repentance.

4. Keep It Real

Don’t try to impress God with lofty words. As I said before, God isn't interested in how good your English is. He is just interested in your heart—to have communion with you. Pour out your heart as you are. St. Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6, NIV).

5. Be Consistent, Not Perfect

You may miss a day. Don’t quit. Just start again. The power is in perseverance. Prayer is like breathing—you may not notice every breath, but it sustains your life. Don't conclude that because you missed a day, the prayer you previously offered is null and void. No—it isn't. 

6. Invite the Holy Spirit

Prayer without the Spirit is lifeless. Yes, brethren, I said it, and I will say it again and again. We all need the Spirit. Without Him, we can't persevere. Ask Him to help you pray, even when words fail. “The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26, NIV).

A daily prayer habit is not about religious duty but about walking daily with your Father. Start small, stay faithful, and soon you will see your life shaped by the presence of God.

I recall my primary school days when my teacher gave us an assignment on prayer. The short answer I gave was: "Prayer is the key." Oh yes! You might say I got it wrong or my response was brief. Well, that was my understanding of prayer as a 10-year-old boy.

Remember, prayer is not a task to be perfected but a relationship to be enjoyed. Don’t let the fear of getting it wrong keep you from starting. Just as you naturally turn to a loved one, turn your heart to your Father today—in your own words, in your own way. He is waiting. Begin now, and watch your ordinary moments become encounters with His extraordinary grace.

I encourage you to pray today, tomorrow and continue to pray.


For a practical guide that brings sacramental theology to life, see our in-depth review of the Book of Solemn Blessings.


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