UPWARD DISCIPLINE

DAILY PRAYER

The practice of intentionally setting aside time each day for prayer.

IDEAS FOR PRACTICE

• Decide what time of day works best for you. Many people choose to begin their day with prayer, but you may find that you are more awake and present during your lunch hour, in the afternoon, or even right before you go to bed.

• Decide how long you want to spend in prayer each day. If this is a new practice for you, start with a small amount of time and gradually increase it as you are able.

• If you need some structure for this time, consider using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide. Pray one line at a time and pause to add your own prayers in between:

Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be your name Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.

• You can also consider using the ACTS acronym to structure a longer time of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. (You can refer to the practices of Worship, Confession, Gratitude, and Intercession listed on this site.)

• Choose any of the types of prayer listed on this site to experiment with, perhaps rotating through different types of prayer each day of the week.