When I asked about a young man’s prayer life, he replied, ‘I pray as led, sometimes for hours.’ However, his next response revealed a different story. When asked when he last prayed and for how long, he mentioned it had been a week ago and only lasted an hour. He lacked discipline in prayer.
Friend, prayer is a discipline (Mark 1:35). Nobody has the gift of prayer. People who pray developed the discipline with time. Prayer is not a ministry that only a few people have. It is the ministry of every believer (Acts 6:4, 1 Peter 2:5). Anyone can develop a prayer life if they want to. It begins with a desire and a discipline.
Most people stop their prayer life at the level of desire, but desire is not enough (Matthew 26:41). Desire must be accompanied by discipline. If desires automatically translate to manifestation, we would have prayerful people everywhere. Don’t only pray as you are led. Pray by structures and schedules (Daniel 6:10).
We have all been led to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Stop waiting for another special leading before you pray. Although there would be times the Holy Spirit would impress on your heart the need to pray, don’t only wait for such special times. It is those who pray by structures and schedules that the Holy Spirit can easily lead (Acts 10:1-4).
If Zachariah had not kept a consistent schedule in his priestly duties, the visiation he had would not have taken place (Luke 1:8-13). It is beautiful when God knows that He will always meet you at a particular time and in a particular place. This is what an altar is about; a place where divinity meets with humanity (Leviticus 6:12-13).
Just like visiting a gym until you do it regularly, your muscles cannot be built (1 Timothy 4:7-8, 15). Maintaining spiritual fitness has to be by structure and discipline. You don’t pray because you feel like praying. You pray because you have to pray (Luke 18:1). Then, from having to pray, you move to wanting to pray. Nothing becomes a delight unless it is a discipline.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria