Submitted by Pastor Julie Sanders, Tarkio and Westboro United Methodist Churches

Prayer is something I have had many say they struggle with – yet prayer is a connection between us and God. Prayer can be challenging depending on how we view it. One of the ways that I started my prayer life was by just showing up. Which is to have ‘discipline’ in prayer, which I take to mean something like: finding a way to sort of make ourselves do what we know we should do. If you’re anything like me, sometimes you must find ways to make yourself do what you think you really want to do. I don’t know why we’re like that, but we are. Here are five quick ways to develop a consistent, daily routine of prayer:

• Go to the same place at the same time every day. Prayer is a habit you’re forming. It doesn’t have to be a great place or the perfect time, simply good enough. If the first time or place you choose doesn’t work, find one that works better. Then stick with it. It’s a habit.

• Start small. If you try to go from no prayer to a half hour of prayer every day, you’ll probably wind up back at no prayer. If you currently have no daily prayer time, just four or five minutes a day amount to a half hour a week more prayer every week. Take it and grow from there.

• Use reminders. Maybe a sign on your bathroom mirror. Or a note where you put your glasses down and pick them back up from. Or maybe you pray while you brush your teeth. Or as you wash your hands say the Lord’s Prayer. Use reminders, set alarms.

• Find someone to pray with every day, either in person or over the phone or online. Or ask someone to hold you accountable and have them check in with you regularly.

• And finally, be easy on yourself. In the book Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson it says whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up over past failures or present struggles in prayer. Simply do what the disciples did. Ask Jesus to help you. Maybe your first daily prayer needs to be: Jesus, help me to pray every day. Blessings!