When do you eat? Most of us have at least a general idea. Breakfast sometime in the morning, lunch somewhere in the middle of the day, dinner later on. And if you skip too many meals, your body is going to let you know about it.
Same with sleep. You probably have a ballpark bedtime. Maybe you don’t always hit it, but you know you need rest, and you feel it when you don’t get it.
But then there’s this question… when do I pray?
For me, I tend to make time for eating. I make time for sleep. But prayer can sometimes become something I fit in around everything else. I pray when a problem comes up, or when I remember, or when there’s a need that feels urgent.
And praying about problems is a good thing. But I’ve been wondering if prayer should be more regular than that. Maybe it should be part of the rhythm of my day, just like meals and rest.
Paul seemed to think so.
In Ephesians 6:18–19, he writes, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests… always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me…”
Pray on all occasions. Pray for believers. Pray for the gospel to go forward. Pray when there’s a need, yes… but also pray because it’s part of how we stay close to God.
I know I need food. I know I need sleep. But I’m learning I need prayer just as much.