How to Pray Daily and Put God First: 5 Ways to Pray Consistently

If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ and you’re not praying regularly, you’re missing out on the opportunity to know God personally. Still, life can feel like it’s stealing all your time. Let’s change how you prioritize prayer so that you can be more consistent and make God your first priority.

I understand what it feels like when the days go by in a blur – working from sunup to sundown. However, one thing I’ve noticed across all those blurry days is this:

When I take time to pray, despite my schedule, life goes much more smoothly. That doesn’t mean I don’t still have days when I neglect my time with God, but they’ve become fewer. And I credit that improvement to the five tips for daily prayer I’m about to share.

Why Pray Daily?

We live in a world that’s full of sin and evil. It can quickly overwhelm you and overshadow any good in your life if you don’t tap into the one Source that has the power to keep all of that mess at bay.

This is why we pray: to connect with the One who can fill our lives with peace and goodness.

We also pray because when we face challenges, the only true way to overcome them is to hold onto God. He is the prayer answerer. That may not be the most eloquent way to say it, but it’s real and true.

So, if you are looking for ways to be more consistent in prayer, I recommend you try one or all of the techniques I’m about to share.

Pray First Thing in The Morning
Use a Prayer Planner
Pray Over Every Little Thing
Keep a Running Prayer List
Habit Stack Praying

Let’s dive into these one at a time.

1. Pray First Thing In The Morning

Aside from the fact that your days will go much smoothly when you pray first thing in the morning, doing so sets your priorities the way they should be.

When you pray as soon as you wake up (even if that’s at night because of your work schedule), you’re telling the Father that you want Him to direct your day. As a result, you’ll likely feel less overwhelmed and more focused on what needs to get done.

Praying first thing in the morning is also a proactive way to help you when you are feeling spiritually drained.

Read: What to Pray About When You Don’t Know What to Say

Praying first thing also ensures you actually take the time to do so. As you know, time will quickly slip away the moment your feet hit the floor.

2. Use a Prayer Planner

If you struggle with having scattered thoughts, using a prayer planner can help you remain focused on prayer.

If you struggle with scattered thoughts, a prayer planner can help you stay focused.

Prayer planners create a paper trail of what you’re praying for and serve as a visual reminder when left out in plain sight.

There are many prayer planners on the market that cater to different personalities and styles. Here are a few:

She Prays Boldly Prayer Planner – contains everything from prayer journal prompts to (printable and reusable)
Coffee and Bible Time Prayer Journal & Planner (spiral bound)
A.C.T.S. Prayer Planner – offering a guided method of praying (printable and reusable)
Daily Bible & Prayer Journal for Women – can be used as a daily devotional (spiral bound)

Whatever prayer planner you decide on, make sure it’s one that you keep in your line of sight daily.

Prayer Journal Prompts

When using a prayer journal, it’s easy to get stuck on what to pray about. The She Prays Boldly Prayer Planner contains a host of prompts to help you pray. Here are just a few:

I lift up [person’s name] before you. He/she is facing… (for intercessory prayer)
Lord, please give me wisdom for… (for petitions and requests)
Give me spiritual ears to hear & eyes to see what Your Word reveals about… (for spiritual growth)

When life just has you feeling a bit drained, you can fall back on prayer prompts to keep the momentum of prayer going.

Discover more prayer prompts here.

A prayer journal featuring prompts to help individuals stay committed to a life of prayer is displayed alongside a candle, decorative stones, and a notebook.

Pray Over Every Little Thing

When you get into the habit of praying about everything, even the little things, prayer becomes a way of life.

Here are a few “small” things you can start praying about:

What to eat
What cleaning products to use
Your outfit for the day
Whether to drink coffee or tea

They may seem minor, but it brings God joy when you rely on Him for every area of your life.

4. Keep a Running Prayer List

Nothing fosters regular prayer than seeing a running list of needs in your life and the lives of others you care about. It acts as another visual nudge to pray and leaves you with no guesswork on what to pray for.

Every time someone asks for prayer, add it to your list. When something weighs on your heart, add it to your list.

A prayer list is an ever-growing and shrinking document that you can make as simple or as elaborate as you like. You’ll be surprised by how helpful one becomes over time. Just start.

5. Habit Stack Your Prayer Time

Habit stacking is a simple technique where you attach a habit you are trying to build with one you already have in place. For example, people often brush their teeth right after doing their skin care routine.

You can stack prayer with habits like:

Folding laundry
Showering
Cleaning your home
Completing your wash day routines

Of course, these things need to already be habits before you can stack on to them. So, your list may be different.

A woman sits on a couch, engaged in personal prayer, with text overlay offering tips on staying prayed up during busy days, emphasizing the importance of prayer life and motivation.

Quick Recap: 5 Ways to Stay Consistent in Prayer

Pray First Thing in the Morning – Start your day with God to set the tone and invite His guidance.
Use a Prayer Planner – Stay focused and organized by keeping a visual record of your prayers.
Pray Over Every Little Thing – Make prayer a natural, ongoing habit by inviting God into the small details.
Keep a Running Prayer List – Track needs as they arise so you never wonder what to pray about.
Habit Stack Praying – Pair prayer with daily routines to make it stick (like folding laundry or cleaning).

Try one or try them all to build a consistent and powerful prayer life.

Scriptures to Encourage and Guide You in Prayer

God’s Word has a lot to say about prayer. Here are a few Bible verses (ESV version) to help encourage your consistency:

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Philippians 4:6–7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

James 5:16 (ESV)
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Want to Keep Growing In Your Prayer Life?

Here are some other helpful posts to encourage and equip you:

Beginner’s Guide to Prayer – Tips for Creating a Simple Prayer Routine
How to Create a bold Prayer Life – Even When you Feel Inconsistent
How to Pray the Names of God – The surprising impact of using God’s names when you pray

Each of these articles dives deeper into different aspects of prayer, from what to say when you feel stuck to building a stronger connection with God.

Final Thoughts

Prayer is such a vital part of a Christian’s life that we have to prioritize praying daily. Our prayer time needs to be planned and properly focused on if we are going to grow in our faith and be successful while on this side of heaven.

Written by Michelle Smith, natural hair enthusiast and creator of Fine Natural Hair and Faith, sharing real experiences and results from caring for her fine natural hair for over 20 years. She helps other women navigate their natural hair journeys with confidence and faith.