Prayer is the key to unlocking power in our lives with Christ. Here are five ways to help you create a rhythm of prayer in your life.
Pray the Psalms. The Psalms are songs, prayers and petitions that God accepts even when we don’t understand Him or things aren’t going our way — we know, because they are in scripture. If you don’t know what to say when you are angry (Psalm 109), sad (Psalm 88), lonely (Psalm 25), afraid (Psalm 55), grateful (Psalm 34), or glad (Psalm 112), just read these words aloud.
Think of God as your friend. One of the most striking things about Jesus was that, even though He is God made flesh, He was a “friend of sinners.” Christ continually called us his friends. When you have the urge to pick up the phone and text someone about a crisis or chat about a day that’s not gone your way, talk to God first instead.
Write your prayers. If you get distracted during prayer, writing your thoughts out can help. It doesn’t have to be a long journal entry. Even a few sentences will unburden your heart to God. Keep a blank notebook by your bed. It can become an encouraging record of God’s answers to your prayers as well.
Schedule a time to be alone for prayer. It takes commitment, but if we truly believe that prayer is a way we receive the supernatural help of God, we have to be as good about scheduling prayer time as we are vacation time. If you are going through a struggle, schedule time away to pray about it.
Don’t be embarrassed of short prayers. There is a time for long and uninterrupted seasons of prayer. Christ went away for them often. But when Jesus taught us how to pray, he gave us about 50 words:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
 Matthew 6:9-13
That’s it. A sentence of worship, a sentence of asking God that His kingdom and will would be done. A prayer for our needs, for our forgiveness, and for our protection from evil.
So don’t be afraid of praying short prayers. Approach God with worship and gratitude, make your needs known, and confess your sins. Prayer really is as simple as these small conversations with God as often as we can have them.

Article by Senior Pastor Mike Adkins.