Practical Tips For Daily Prayer

Since there are so many activities and responsibilities in our daily lives, it can be difficult to fit in a daily prayer time. Whether you are single, married, in your youth or golden years, and whether you have children or not, it’s likely that you have many distractions keeping you from prayer. Some of these distractions are legitimate or necessary, such as working or caring for others, and some are surmountable. Whatever the distraction, however, you must persevere in prayer in order to grow in holiness and lead a Christian life. Here are some tips for building a habit of prayer in your life:

1) Pray what you like 
If you struggle with having a regular prayer time, I don’t recommend forcing yourself to pray a particular devotion that you struggle with. I recommend the Rosary to everyone, for example, but if you simply don’t enjoy it, pray something else! It can be a rote prayer, such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Angelus, or the Litany of Trust, or you can just tell God what’s on your mind. As you develop a habit of daily prayer, you can then move on to different devotions.

2) Get a CD or digital media for your car.
You can find audio prayers on your phone or buy a CD with a special devotion. Play that on your way to school or work instead of music. If you are alone, you can also try driving in silence. You will be surprised at how peaceful it is, how much more in tune with God you feel, and how well you pay attention to the road!

3) Get a partner for accountability
This person can be someone in your family, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. You can pray together, or you can simply send each other a text after you have completed your daily devotion. You might have an image in your mind of a cloistered nun who spends all her time in prayer, but you forget that even she has a Mother Superior to hold her accountable! The encouragement that comes from such a relationship is sure to help you gain a fervor for prayer, as well as deepen your friendship.



Think of your prayer life as more important than your job or family. That may seem extreme, but the people you love and the organization you work for is counting on you to grow in your Christian life. Your faith affects all areas of your life, so don’t be afraid to set boundaries and pursue time with the Lord. Many of you are struggling to care for parents or young children. I promise that you, too, can have a healthy and dedicated prayer life. Ask God to show you times during the day when you can offer up a short prayer. He will never fail you.