Prayer is and always has been the greatest weakness of my spiritual life. It's easy to think all the right things about prayer and believe in the importance of it, but quite another thing to actually do it! My words may never be what I imagine they should be, but I earnestly want prayer to lead in my life, not constantly bring up the rear. These are a few things I aim to not just think about, but do:
1. Pray now.
When I hear of a prayer need, I must stop and pray about it immediately. Otherwise, the request will fall down the list of priorities until there's a good chance I will never pray specifically for it at all. Even if it's only once, only a few inadequate phrases, prayer will have actually been accomplished.
2. Pray together.
For a relationship to survive and thrive, the people in it must faithfully pray for each other. Prayer for each other separately has its vital place, but prayer together is all the more effective. It strengthens focus and fosters intention, and builds deeper bonds with one another than anything else can.
3. Pray first, work later.
Perhaps the hardest one of all -- I tend to make my plans, work hard, and then maybe remember to pray for God to bless my efforts after the fact. Instead, I must bring the work to God first, ask for His plans, and carry them out as His and not my own. How much more blessed my work would be!
What do you need to do to live a life led by prayer?