One great duty in the Christian life is that of prayer. It is a duty because God commands us to pray. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
And yet, you know from your own experience that prayer is not an easy thing. In many ways, it is much easier to perform other spiritual practices such as Bible reading, attending worship, enjoying fellowship, and serving others.
One reason for this is that in those activities, you feel like you are doing something, and that something is being accomplished. Whereas prayer asks you to simply sit still before your Lord – a true exercise of simple faith.
It is for this same reason that you may feel too busy to pray each day, because there’s just too much to do. You feel too busy to pray, but the reality is you’re too busy not to pray. Even our Lord Jesus withdrew from the busyness of the crowds to be with His Father.
For consider what prayer is. Yes, it’s a duty, but it is also a privilege and an opportunity. It is a privilege that you have as a child of God to experience communion with Him as your good Father. And it is an opportunity to participate in His sovereign work, to lift up your every need, and receive from Him strength for the day.
Prayer is meant to be a daily activity for every Christian that sustains the soul, just in the same way that food sustains your body.
And so if you struggle with prayer like many Christians do, here are just a few practical suggestions to help. First, pray with others. Sincerely join in the prayers offered in our service, pray daily with your families, and consider attending the various prayer meetings in our community. Second, don’t overthink or overdo it. Start small. Aim for five minutes, not fifty. Build the habit or rhythm first and then grow from there. And lastly, keep a list of thanksgivings and petitions to help you remember what you’d like to pray for, and do not neglect good books of prayers to prime the pump.
In this work, your faith may be weak, your words may be few and falter, but never forget that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Ps. 34:15).
This exhortation was given on September 7, AD 2025, at King’s Cross Church in Moscow, Idaho.