3 ways you can make prayer more meaningful in your life

Praying is one of the most personal and vulnerable acts you can make in your day to day life. It's a moment of commune with the divine, a direct conversation with God Almighty. It's a moment when you let your guard down and face what is moving you in your life - what you're worried about, what you're joyful about, your anxieties, problems, and celebrations.

It can also be intimidating at times.

Talking with God isn't something that always comes easy. Sometimes, we our conversations with God are awkward, stilted. They can seem forced, or even worse, performative. Something you're doing because you feel like you're supposed to as a Christian, not something you truly feel deep within. 

That's okay. Everyone has moments like that. There is no such thing as the perfect prayer, but there are things we can do to make sure our private moments with God are honest, forthcoming, and spiritually bracing.

We often think of prayer as a very formal thing. A moment to be serious and deliberate. That's good, you should always approach prayer with the respect and appreciation it deserves. However, that doesn't mean praying needs to be planned out like a presentation or a speech.

Prayer needs to come from the soul, not the brain. It doesn't need to be especially well-worded, eloquent, or lavish. The Lord knows your heart, He knows what you mean and what you are trying to convey, so don't allow over-analysis or nerves to get the better of you and choke you up. A quick prayer from the heart means as much or more than a long, planned one.

God always hears us, so let your words flow freely. Be honest and direct when praying and let your heart express itself. You might be surprised what comes out when you really let down your armor and pray with abandon.

When I was young, I was taught to pray in a kind of formula. I'd say the Lord's Prayer, then roll into a list of family members who's safety I'd pray for, the health or curing of on-going medical conditions in my family, and maybe at the end I'd tag on whatever was actually relevant or weighting on my mind that day. 

For some people, formula or tradition can be comforting. A way to organize their thoughts and make sure they are addressing the Lord with the proper respect He is due. For me though, I found going through the same prayer day after day dull and lifeless. I'd mentally slur through the process without really thinking about it. I'd rattle off the names of family members and friends I hadn't truly thought of in months. It was the opposite of a respectful and meaningful conversation with God.

It was only when I stopped being a slave to routine that I felt prayer really have an impact in my life. When I stopped going through a ritualized checklist and started to just be open and honest with God and embrace prayer as communication with God, not a nightly ceremony. I'd pray about what was on my mind, what I'd been through during the day, for guidance on the developments and events that was effecting me at the moment, and I felt His answer in my life.

If you are feeling the same way, if you're prayers have become rote or routine, it's okay to step away from them and try something new. Never be afraid to admit that something isn't working. It's far better to address the issue than to continue to drift listlessly through your prayers, disrespecting God and starving yourself of the spiritual nourishment that comes with a rich and vital prayer life.

When we think of prayer, it's easy to think of the classic approach. Keeled down at the pew or the edge of a bed, hands folded, eyes closed. That is a fine and beautiful way to pray, but we shouldn't get confused and think it is the only way to pray.

We can talk to God in many different ways. From quick momentary nods, to vocalized expressions. I know some people who even like to write their prayers. They keep a journal, or a deck of flash cards handy and they write their prayers down, communicating with God as they write. It is a meaningful and deeply personal moment for them, providing a period of real reflection in their day. Plus, having a "prayer log” as it were, lets them review their prayers and see God's hand in their life. It is a fine and beautiful way to pray.

Maybe that sounds like something you might enjoy. Maybe it doesn't. What is important to remember though is that we're not required to pray in any specific way. Your walk with the Lord is your own. Your relationship with the Lord is your own. The way you pray is your own. Find what works for you and do it.