I’m feeling the need to grow in my prayer life. What are some things you’ve found helpful?

Here are some that I’m aware of:

• Prayer books. As Jerry Starling mentioned in a comment the other day, most of us in churches of Christ grew up with a natural aversion to prayers written by other people. That’s hard for me to overcome, but I think it could be helpful. Not all repetition is vain repetition.
• Fasting. Fasting has been a part of my prayer life for over thirty years, in an on-again off-again sort of way. Sadly, there have been more times when it was “off” than “on.” I want to improve that.
• Prayer apps. I’ve been trying to use PrayerMate more. It takes two disciplines for me to do so: (1) Maintain the prayer list; (2) Actually pray using the app. Another area I need to work on.

Suggestions? What have you found that helps your prayer life?

O Lord Most High,

Create in me a new heart, for the one I have is so human and untrustworthy. Fill me with your Spirit, that I may learn to say no to my flesh. Restore to me the joy of salvation and take away the love of sinning. Let me set my eyes on you, for you are my refuge and my hope, my salvation and my true desire.

Lead me to the city you are preparing, my true patria, my homeland, the country where I belong. Teach me to live as an ambassador along the way, a foreigner with a purpose, an alien on a mission. Here in Kedar and Mesech, I long for the new Jerusalem. Lead me home, Father.

“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalms 131:1–3)

O Father,
Help me to calm and quiet my soul. Help me to seek the still, small voice in the midst of the turmoil around me. Grant me your peace that passes all understanding.
Make me an instrument of your peace, Lord.
Amen.

My Father,
Through Your Holy Spirit, in Your Son’s name, I ask…

…help me choose love rather than resentment
…help me choose joy over bitterness
…help me live peace in a world of turmoil
…help me to be patient with others as You are patient with me
…help me to be known for kindness not harshness
…help me to seek goodness not success
…help me be faithful to You above all
…help me to be gentle, especially with those who disagree with me
…help me practice self-control, letting You control me

May Your Spirit produce His fruit in me.

Amen

Lord, give me the boldness to speak truth as I see it, no matter what others think.
Grant me the humility to recognize that the others may be right.
Let me know how to choose my battles, discerning when winning the person is more important than winning the argument.
Help me to recognize your significance and my relative insignificance.
Guide me into truth.
May your glory be my goal.

Amen.