Prayer as a Rule of Life

Do we prioritize prayer like we would an important meeting or appointment?

It’s easy to remind ourselves to pray each day, but in the words of John Piper, “The devil defeats most praying before it happens because we didn’t make a plan.” Or, as John Mark Comer says, “Following Jesus has to make it on to your schedule, or the odds are it will not happen, or it will be sporadic at best.”

We will neglect prayer if we do not intentionally set aside time with God each day.

To become praying leaders, we must create and commit to a Rule of Life. Author Marjorie Thompson describes a Rule of Life as “a pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness.”

Many practices and kinds of prayers can be incorporated in a Rule of Life. Praying leaders set aside time for prayer in which they receive joy in the presence of God, fight and persevere in prayer for those they lead, meditate on Scripture, and pray all kinds of prayers (Ephesians 6:18). Regardless of the specifics, the commitment to daily times of dedicated prayer is vital.

Old Testament praying leaders also modeled commitment to a Rule of Life. Daniel knelt and prayed three times a day. His prayer rhythms were so important to him that, even when facing death, he was unwilling to modify them. He chose a den of lions over compromising his Rule of Life because he understood how foundational prayer was to his ability to live and lead (Daniel 6).

King David, too, adopted a Rule of Life that included praying three times a day: morning, noon, and evening (Psalm 55:17). His Rule of Life around prayer eventually became part of his identity; His habit of praying made him “a man of prayer” (Psalm 109:4). The same will be true of us as we create and commit to a Rule of Life around prayer, a choice that will shape our identity and form us into people of prayer.

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Application:

To prioritize prayer: Set aside a scheduled block of prayer time every day as part of your own Rule of Life. Download a free Rule of Life Prayer Map template on www.leadwithprayer.com.

To grow in prayer: Incorporate different kinds of prayer (journaling, lifting hands, praying Scripture, petition, etc.) in your prayer time.

To multiply prayer: Share your own commitment to a Rule of Life and incorporate at least one corporate prayer time in your weekly prayer rhythms.