If I were to ask you what a typical day looks like for you, what would you say? Maybe you would tell me that on most days you go to work then go to the gym, or maybe you would say you spend much of your life in the car doing drop-off and pick-up for your children. Perhaps you spend your days educating your children or planning and participating in ministry at your church. For most of us, life is full. Yet even amid busyness, there stands the command in Scripture to “pray constantly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The thought of praying constantly may feel overwhelming. How can we fit one more thing into our schedules, and even more, how do we do it all day? But if we stop to examine the moments of our days, we might realize that we have a multitude of moments when we could lift our eyes and hearts to God in prayer.

Often, we pray only when we recognize a need for prayer. We reach out to God when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances and don’t know what to do, when we need something, or when we are filled with worry and anxiety. While those are certainly good reasons to seek God’s help, prayer is so much more than telling God a long list of what we need. In our everyday lives, we can easily go through the day without experiencing a need for God. It can be easy to go through the motions of our day and by the end of the day realize that we haven’t even thought about God.

Consider, in contrast to how you feel in your day-to-day, how you might feel while on a mission trip. On a mission trip, you may often find yourself out of your comfort zone, and naturally you are more aware of your surroundings. You notice things that you wouldn’t normally notice in your everyday environment, and with that you notice your need for God. You recognize that you cannot make it through the day without Him. Prayer quickly becomes your natural lifeline. Yet since most of us can’t be on a mission trip every day, how do we learn to pray constantly in our normal, everyday routines? Here are a few thoughts on what it looks like to pray constantly throughout your day:

1. Wake Up with God

Let your first conversation be with the Lord when you get up in the morning. Start your day by thanking Him for the day ahead and surrendering it to Him. Even if you are a Bible study at night kind of person, this conversation does not need to be formal. The point is to think about and connect with God from the beginning. (If you are a slow-to-rise person, it’s okay to start the conversation after you’ve had some coffee! If needed, you can even set a reminder on your phone!) Don’t let your day get going without talking to God first.

2. See Every Day Like a Mission Trip

Jesus calls us all to make disciples of all nations, teaching them everything He commanded (Matthew 28:18–20). When looking to make disciples on a mission trip, it is common to pray for every person you encounter, that the Lord would meet them and give them an opportunity to share the gospel. We have the opportunity to do the same in our everyday lives. Whether we live in the same place we grew up or live in another country, we all have the same mission to go and make disciples.

Leveraging your life for the gospel means living with the goal of building the kingdom of God every day. How can you be praying for your neighbors, your coworkers, or the other parents in the car line? If it’s good to pray for every person you encounter on a mission trip, why not pray for every person you encounter daily? God can use us right where we are if we will join Him where He is working. We are not alone, for He told us He would be with us always (Matthew 28:20).

3. Talk to God About Everything

God absolutely wants us to tell Him about everything we need. We can tell Him our fears, our worries, and even our wants. But we can also talk to Him about the normal, everyday occurrences in our lives. We can thank Him for the food we eat, the people we encounter, and even the work we get to do. We can share with Him the little joys and unexpected annoyances throughout our days. He is working in and through it all.

We can pray specifically and with intentionality. Typically, the more you get to know someone, the more the conversation moves from general topics to specific topics. You begin to talk about everything in your lives. Just as having a detailed conversation with your best friend builds the foundation of friendship, praying specific prayers deepens our relationship with God. God wants us to have conversations with Him about everything that’s on our hearts and minds, so to pray constantly, we can pray about everything.

The idea of praying constantly may feel overwhelming at first, and it’s okay to start slow. Begin your day by talking to God. Ask Him to open your eyes during the day to see how He is at work. Try to pay attention to what God is doing. Then talk to Him about the good, the bad, the ugly, and the everyday occurrences in your life. The more you talk to Him, the more you will see His work in the world around you. As you talk to Him about what you see Him doing, you will begin to live a life of prayer.

If you liked this article, check out the related resources linked below!

---

Author Bio

Emily Dean serves as Associate Professor of Ministry to Women at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Her husband, Dr. Jody Dean, also serves as Professor of Christian Education at NOBTS. They live in the New Orleans area and have two children, a college student, Lydia, and a high schooler, James. Prior to God calling them to teaching ministry, Jody and Emily served churches in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Emily loves serving women and has devoted her life to discipling women of all ages. She has been teaching at NOBTS for fifteen years and is the author of Women Leading Well: Stewarding the Gift of Ministry Leadership by B&H Academic.

Related Resources:

Pray Bible Study		The Lord’s Prayer | 3 Week Study - Men		All Things New - Praying Scripture Journal
Loading price…		Loading price…		Loading price…
Add to Cart		Add to Cart		Add to Cart