Becoming a prayerful person involves a lot of help from God, but some patient effort on our part as well. It is important to establish a time, a place, and a method for prayer.

Establish a TIME for Prayer

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed (Mark 1:35).

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm 5:3).

Jesus’ favorite time to pray was in the early morning before His busy schedule of serving and preaching began. God enjoys having communion with Him throughout the day. However, if we do not turn to God in the beginning of our day for grace and strength, we will often find ourselves on our knees in the evening asking for forgiveness for the mistakes we made because we neglected the great opportunity.

Establish a PLACE for Prayer

...he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed (Mark 1:35).

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:6).

Jesus always found a quite place to commune with His Father. Sometimes it was in a garden, sometimes up in a mountain, but wherever it was, He usually was out of doors and by Himself where He would not be disturbed.

It is important to find a special place where you will not be disturbed in your time with God. It may be a special chair by your bed or it may be somewhere in your backyard. Many people report that their prayer life is recharged when they go outdoors in nature like Jesus did.

Whether out on the deck in the morning or under the stars at night, you can feel His presence more fully surrounded by the evidence of God’s Creation. But the important thing is to choose a quiet place where you can be alone to talk to your Best Friend.

Establish a METHOD of Prayer

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:7-8).

Matthew tells us that God does not want to hear vain repetitions in our prayers. Prayer is the opening up of our heart to God like a friend and is appropriate at any time, at any place, in any form. Yet in those special moments of time alone, in intimate communion with His Father, Jesus knelt and prayed aloud.

To abide in Jesus is to allow His words to abide in you. In His analysis of how to live as a Christian, Jesus makes abundantly clear what it really means to be united with Him:

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).

To abide in Christ means that His words, His teachings and His life-giving principles fill your mind and transform your life. God’s words contain life-giving power (Psalm 33:9; John 6:63). This is the connection to the source of power in your life. Why do so many read the Word with so little benefit?