Blog - What Are the Best Prayer Habits

What Are the Best Prayer Habits

by Mike Ingold on February 28, 2023

Some of us are afraid to approach God. We believe he is stern and that he’s eager to punish us. However, our God is a God of compassion and love. He only desires the best for his children. What are some prayer habits that we can use to approach God?

Habit 1: Pray in the Morning

One thing I’ve found helpful is to pray first thing in the morning! When I pray and spend time with God, it starts my day the right way and gives me strength to face any struggles or opposition that I may face. Jesus often went away to be by himself and pray alone.

Habit 2: Pray with Other Believers

Another prayer habit I’ve found helpful is praying with another Christian. The Bible says that where two or three are gathered together, he will be in the midst of them. When you pray with another Christian and have God there with you, you have a three-fold cord which the Word says is not easily broken. In other words, the enemy will have trouble hassling you because you have the strength of God with you.

Habit 3: Begin Your Prayer Time with Silence

A third habit is to begin your prayer time with silence, waiting on God to speak with you. This settles your mind, heart, and spirit, allowing God to speak his will so you can join him in prayer. Too often, we come before God with our list of things we want and don’t take time to hear what is on his heart. When we listen to God’s words and obey, we get God’s results!

Habit 4: Open Your Prayer Time with Praise and Thanksgiving

A fourth habit is to open your time with God by praising him for his goodness, his character, and his nature. Pour out your heart of thanksgiving to him, telling him how much you love him and affirm who he is to you. This practice helps you get “God-focused” in prayer and helps your prayer time become more effective.

Habit 5: Ask God to Highlight Someone You Should Pray For

A fifth habit that can work for anyone is to ask God to highlight a person you should pray for. It may be their name, you may see that person’s face, or he may identify the person in another way. Once you have the person, ask God what he wants to say about that person. God may say they need encouragement, or they may need healing. After God says what he wants you to know about that person, ask God how to pray for them. He will usually give you a specific direction for prayer.

Habit 6: Ask God How Long

Finally, you can ask God how long he wants you to pray for that person. i.e., How many minutes in that prayer time, for a day, a week, or maybe even a few weeks or months. Then do what God is telling you. The other person will be blessed, and you will also be blessed.

God can be approached in prayer. He says to boldly come before his throne of grace. Pray early in the day, pray in agreement with someone, begin with silence and listening, open with praise, and ask God to highlight a person and how to pray for them. Then watch God deepen your prayer life as you implement some of these practical prayer habits.

Tags: prayer, praise, thanksgiving, waiting, silence, target, together, routine, morning, meditation, habit

About the Author

Mike Ingold

Mike is our Prayer Ministry Director here at Petra! He oversees our Prayer Vision Team, our Altar Ministry Team, the Prayer Chain, our churchwide Prayer and Fasting week, and the incoming Prayer Requests both online and from the Pastors/Elders.

Mike accepted Christ at age 11, was water baptized at age 13, and was first baptized in the Spirit at age 20, which is when he remembers his relationship with Jesus really began to develop. Before his role here at Petra, Mike received his master’s in Elementary Education and was in the field for over 35 years. During that time, he also worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities at Friendship Community. Mike helped start 2 Christian schools in Indiana and Thailand and became the principal at 2 schools, one in Illinois and one in Puerto Rico.

Together, Mike and his wife have 4 kids and 7 grandkids. In his free time, he makes it a point to read through the Bible once a year. He also enjoys reading Christian Fiction, playing on a bowling team, watching sports, taking walks, and writing. He is the author of the book, “Overcoming Fears: A 365-Day Devotional.” Mike and his wife also serve on the Hopewell Asia Missions team.

He accepted his role here at Petra in 2022 with a passion for seeing people find joy, comfort, and peace in Jesus. He loves seeing how God answers people’s prayers and is excited to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of those he interacts with!

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