Many of us are familiar with the Bible verse that tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, if we’re being honest, this concept can be overwhelming if taken literally.
Fortunately, the focus here is more on an attitude of prayer and a heart turned toward God rather than non-stop verbal prayer. It’s about being mindful of God’s presence and simply being ready to communicate with him throughout your day.
For me, my prayer life changed dramatically when I stopped saying “amen” after every prayer. I wanted to talk to God throughout the day, never ending our conversation. By doing this, I wanted to move away from checking the box with my prayers.
So, as we reflect on prayer for the month of May, we wanted to share some “out-of-the-box” ways you can pray. Some of these ideas may initially seem unorthodox or unfamiliar, but we hope that one or more of them resonate with you and, ultimately, encourage you to “pray without ceasing.”
1. Journaling Prayers
Writing your prayers out in a journal can be beneficial in several ways. For one, it can be easier to organize your thoughts and what you want to say to God. Secondly, you can use these prayers for inspiration in the future or reflect on them and your spiritual growth. There is also something therapeutic about writing out what you’re feeling and being real and vulnerable to God. It makes your thoughts tangible and can be healing as well. David knew this all too well, as many of the Psalms are basically David’s journaled prayers crying out to God.
2. Worship Music
Singing along to God-centered music is another wonderful way to pray. You don’t always have to use your own words, after all. Whether you’re alone or in church, use music and songs as a form of prayer, focusing your attention solely on glorifying God. Sometimes, it can be difficult to pray, but listening to worship music with a prayerful heart can encourage you and help you refocus on the Lord.
3. Prayer Walks
Prayer doesn’t have to be stagnant. There are times when we don’t even know what to pray. Prayer walks are a great tactic for these instances. Take a walk through your neighborhood, home, school or in nature and pray for what you see. Maybe there’s a neighbor you’ve been wanting to connect with on a deeper level. Or maybe you’re feeling prompted to change church homes. Simply walk, meditate, pray. Let the Holy Spirit lead you.
4. Popcorn Prayers
Prayer doesn’t always have to be long and drawn out. Short prayers throughout the day can keep your mind on things above, even if they’re silent. They don’t take up much of your time, either. Whether you’re in the car on the way to work, getting emotional from a trigger or even warming something up in the microwave, there will be many opportunities for prayers like these:
5. Praying Scriptures
Another great way to pray — especially when you don’t have the words to say — is praying God’s words back to him. Use a verse or passage to guide your prayer and meditate on what you’re reading and saying. God often uses Scripture to speak to us and we can do the same to speak to Him. Also, the Lord’s Prayer, is a template for prayer that Jesus provided for us. Use it as a guide to glorify God, thank him and ask him for help with providing what you need and fleeing temptation.
6. Silence
You don’t have to use words every time you pray. Sometimes, we need to simply listen. Psalm 139:2 says that God discerns our thoughts from afar and he knows what we’re thinking, feeling and worrying about. Consider carving out some time in your day — even if it’s just one minute — to stop and think about God and listen for him. Give him your anxiety, your anger and your responsibilities…and just be with him.
7. While Fasting
For me, I feel like my prayer life is at its strongest (and I feel closest to God) when I’m fasting. I distance myself from things that distract me from God and fully focus on him — with my words, my thoughts and even my physical posture. This nourishes my soul and I often experience breakthroughs after fasting. If you've never fasted before, why not give it a try?
These are just a few unique ways people can pray. But God isn’t limited to a box and neither are your prayers. Seek the Lord, praying whenever (and however) you can.