I spoke at my dad’s memorial service. I wasn’t the only speaker, so I decided to read a list of the things he said to me often–wise, funny, or biblical advice he offered regularly.
As I stood at the pulpit with my notecards, I looked down. Lining the stage was a line of blooming peace lilies in baskets. At the end of the memorial, I was given my own lily to take home. That peace lily is one of the few physical things that I have displayed in my home that really connects me to my dad.
I’m not much of an indoor plant person, but I am determined to keep my lily alive. I have potted and re-potted it, read about its care, and situated it right in the one window of our house that gets the best light. Let me tell you, the peace lily is a total diva. Anytime it doesn’t feel like it has had enough water–even if I’m only a day late, it flops over with its leaves pointing to the ground. Thankfully, the lily is also incredibly resilient. All I have to do is water it, and the leaves pop right back up within hours.
When I think about my relationship with the Lord, I think of my peace lily. It’s easy to forget to pray–or to put it off a day or two. Just like my lovely lily, my soul easily wilts when I abstain from going to my heavenly Father in prayer.
Not only does avoiding prayer affect my relationship with God, it’s just… dumb. That’s a blunt word for a real fact.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Scripture promises us that if we ask God for anything according to his will, he hears us.
God is listening. Are we talking to him?
New Year, New Habit
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV, says:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
It is God’s will that you pray, praising God for who he is and thanking him for what he has done.
God wants you to confess your sins to him, and pray for your own spiritual growth and strength.
Scripture tells us to intercede for others, and to ask God for help when we need deliverance.
We are to lament to God when we suffer, and ask him for guidance when we are unsure.
Take a look at three habits that will change the course of your year and help you pray eight types of biblical prayer!
How to Make Prayer a Habit
Habits are those small, daily events that slowly turn into the fabric of your life. It doesn’t take a lot to make prayer a habit. You can actually start today. Before you know it, you’ll be a prayer warrior.
1) Start Each Day in Prayer
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. – Psalm 5:3, ESV
Is there any other time you are more likely to be alone than first thing in the morning? That’s when your household is just waking up (or better yet, asleep!). The morning is a good time to start off your day with God–before you launch into other activities and conversations with your fellow human beings.
My husband goes to a room to be alone each morning to read the Bible and pray.
I tend to pray in the bathroom while I’m brushing my teeth. I know that’s less orderly, but I blame it on years of having to be “mom” anytime I wasn’t locked in the bathroom to pray. (And, wow, did I lock myself in the bathroom often to ask God to grant me patience!)
Regardless of how you pray in the morning, pray. Pray even if it is only for 5 minutes. Pray even if you’re interrupted. Pray in the shower, if need be. Just pray every morning.
2) Pray Continually
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12, ESV
Pray in the morning, but then pray throughout the day.
You probably have extended conversations with your husband. It would be weird if you didn’t. You probably also talk to him on the phone for a couple minutes here and there, mention something as you pop through the living room, and maybe call out to him while he is in the shower.
Our conversations with God are much the same. We come to the Lord with reverence, but not every prayer is an extended session with a set structure.
The ideal prayer session is come to God in a special place, with a list of needs at a consistent daily time, but don’t let the lack of a dedicated prayer time stop you. Instead, be constant in prayer as you:
- Praise God for his attributes. When you see an amazing sunset or a beautiful butterfly, praise God for the power and majesty he displays in his creation.
- Thank God for what he does. Thank God for the food he provides, the warm bed he has given you, and the sweet smiles on the faces of your children.
- Confess your sins. When you are convicted of sin, confess it immediately to God and ask him to forgive you.
- Make supplication. Lock yourself in the bathroom and ask God to give you strength, mercy, or patience. Ask him to grow your character in moments when you feel it slipping.
- Intercede for others. Social media is a great prayer list. Pray for the people you pass in the grocery store. Ask God to bless the women at your church. Pray constantly for your children.
- Call out for deliverance. When you need to be rescued, cry out to God and ask him for help.
- Lament your sorrows. When you suffer, praise God for who he is, tell him of your pain, express your faith in his sovereignty, and thank him for acting on your behalf–because you know he hears you.
- Ask for guidance. Each time you need to make a decision, ask the Lord for help.
Pray constantly. Pray consistently. Just pray.
3) Spend 60 Days Studying the Prayers in the Bible
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight. – Psalm 16:3, ESV
David once wrote that the saints–those who believe in God and follow him–are his delight. We, too, can delight in the saints in Scripture. After all, their stories–and their prayers–are written down for us to learn from.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105, ESV
God’s Word illuminates the way we should go. The Bible always has the answer to growing in righteousness.
This new year, as you seek to establish a new–or stronger–habit of prayer, spend two months studying the prayers of saints in the Bible with the devotional I wrote for you, 60 Scriptures You Can Pray (Whitaker House, 2026).
As you spend a few minutes each day in Scripture and with 60 Scriptures You Can Pray, you will:
- Develop a habit of praying daily over a two-month period
- Learn more about prayer in Scripture
- Understand eight different types of prayer
- Expand your understanding of how to pray biblically
- Become better acquainted with God, His Word, and why we pray
You can make prayer a habit this year, and you can learn more about praying biblically–as our biblical heroes did. Make this the year that you renew your relationship with God.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
Learn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More Here
60 Scriptures You Can Pray
The Bible is full of prayer that you can pray too!
How do you pray when you don’t know what to say? The Bible holds the answer.
God doesn’t expect us to pray without guidance. In fact, Scripture is full of examples of ordinary people approaching our extraordinary God in prayer.
Award-winning author Danika Cooley believes that praying God’s Word teaches us how to best communicate with our Lord:
“There are so many lessons we can learn from Scripture about how to approach God and what to expect when we do.”
Danika’s devotional 60 Scriptures You Can Pray covers eight types of prayer from the Bible, the expectations we should have when we pray, and the right heart attitude for prayer.
- Praise | We adore God for who he is.
- Thanksgiving | We thank God for all he has done.
- Confession | We admit our sin to the God who saves us.
- Supplication | We humbly ask God to provide for our needs.
- Intercession | We ask God to meet the needs of others.
- Deliverance | We cry out to God for help in times of trouble.
- Lament | We bring our sorrow to God, our comforter.
- Guidance | We ask for God’s help in determining his will for our lives.
When you read 60 Scriptures You Can Pray, you will:
- Develop a habit of praying daily over a two-month period
- Learn more about prayer in Scripture
- Understand eight different types of prayer
- Expand your understanding of how to pray biblically
- Become better acquainted with God, His Word, and why we pray
Packed with thoughtful explanations of biblical prayer and practical application in each devotion, 60 Scriptures You Can Pray is the tool you need to learn more about prayer–straight from God’s Word.
Want to equip the women in your church to pray biblically?
Thinking Kids Posts You’ll Love
