And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1 KJV).
As followers of Jesus Christ, believers are called upon to make prayer an integral part of their walk with God. In fact, believers are expected to always pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
For young believers (spiritual babes), consistent prayer can be difficult. Their desire to come into the Lord’s presence is often hindered by distractions (gadgets, noise, etc.), a lack of discipline and commitment, ignorance, the fear of making mistakes, and a lack of the right words to use when praying.
Here are 9 ways you can build your prayer life as a young believer (spiritual babe):-
- Find a quiet place – The prayer corner should be free from noise and distractions (Matthew 6:6)
- Start small and build up – Aim for quality rather than quantity. Start by praying for a short time and increase the time as you grow.
- Practice consistency – Be disciplined. Show up every day. 5 minutes of prayer daily is better than 3 hours of prayer once in a while. An epileptic prayer life will do you more harm than good.
- Write down a list of the things you want to pray about. Having a list of prayer requests saves you from too much blubbering and beating around the bush. It also helps you choose the right words (Matthew 6:7-8).
- Practice a minute of silence before starting every prayer. This gives you a chance to clear/ cleanse your mind and focus on the prayer.
- Be honest and simple – Pray from your heart. Tell God everything as you would to a friend. Use simple language, short and clear sentences. Sometimes, the most powerful prayer you can make is ‘God help me’.
- Pray the Word – Start with scriptures that you have memorized and build on them every single day. Read and meditate on a Bible verse, then pray with it.
- Practice quiet time – After praying, stay silent in the presence of God. Take note of the promptings of the Holy Spirit during this time. If possible, write them down.
- Be patient with yourself. During prayer meetings, do not feel intimidated by ‘prayer warriors’. Pray at your own pace and in a simple language. God looks at the heart, not the number of words used or theatrics made during prayer!
In conclusion, when praying as a young Christian, do not aim to be perfect. Focus on being honest and truthful instead, and our Father who sees in secrecy will reward you (Matthew 6:7).
Prayer requires discipline, patience, consistency, and spiritual alertness. It is not about how long your eyes remain closed but how sincere and meaningful your words are!
Note. Read and meditate on Luke 18: 1-8 and every other scripture mentioned in this piece for personal edification.