Have you ever started your prayer time, only to find yourself interrupted by the many tasks running through your mind? Whether it’s getting ready for work, remembering to prepare dinner, or realizing you need to move the laundry to the dryer, these endless responsibilities can easily pull you away from your prayer life. Before you know it, you cannot pray as you intended, and this cycle repeats daily. Sometimes, finding “the time” to pray feels impossible amidst your busy schedule.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I want to share some simple yet effective strategies to help improve your prayer routine and make it more consistent. As busy Christian moms, our days are often filled to the brim with tasks that seem never-ending. It can be overwhelming, and prioritizing spiritual activities like prayer can often feel challenging. Yet, we know deep down how crucial it is to maintain a strong connection with Christ Jesus through prayer.
Why It’s So Hard to Find Time to Pray
1. The Cycle of Busyness/ Overwhelm
Our lives are often packed with juggling work, caring for kids, managing the household, and handling countless other demands. The truth is, we’re always busy. However, I’ve learned there’s a crucial difference between being genuinely busy and being busy because we lack discipline and routine. Establishing a solid prayer routine is essential for prioritizing our spiritual needs and aligning with the will of God. The cycle of busyness often keeps us from pausing to reflect and spend time in prayer, leading us to miss out on the peace and guidance that comes from connecting with God daily.
This cycle of constant activity can also lead to burnout. We might find ourselves constantly running from one task to the next, leaving little room for rest or spiritual renewal. Without taking time to pause and connect with God, we risk losing sight of what truly matters in our lives. This is why it’s so essential to break the cycle and establish a routine that includes time for prayer. It’s not just about adding another task to your to-do list; it’s about reorienting your life around your relationship with God.
2. The Impact of Lack of Discipline
Without a structured routine, it’s easy to get caught up in less important activities, especially at night. You might find yourself scrolling through social media only to realize you’ve spent 30 minutes or more. You see another mom’s perfectly organized storage room, her kids eating organic meals, or a beautifully arranged pantry, and you start questioning your parenting choices. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, which only distract further from your spiritual goals.
These distractions not only eat into your prayer time but also fill you with unnecessary stress and self-doubt. By the time you’re done, you’re too tired to pray, and you end up falling asleep, having missed the opportunity to connect with God and focus on both your needs and the needs of others. The lack of discipline in managing our time often results in our spiritual lives taking a back seat to less important tasks. Over time, this can weaken our faith and our ability to hear God’s voice in our lives.
Moreover, this lack of discipline can extend beyond just our prayer lives. It can affect our ability to engage in other spiritual practices, such as reading the Bible or attending church services. When we allow distractions to take over, we may find ourselves drifting away from our faith community and losing the sense of connection and support that it provides. Discipline in our spiritual lives is not just about setting aside time for prayer; it’s about cultivating habits that keep us grounded in our faith, even in the midst of our busy daily lives.
3. Screen Time and Mental Distractions (Technostress)
Excessive screen time bombards you with overwhelming information, much of which is stored in your subconscious mind. When you finally sit down to pray, these details start surfacing, making it hard to focus on your prayer life. Whether it’s a news headline, a friend’s social media update, or a shopping ad, these distractions clutter your mind. This mental noise pulls you away from connecting with Jesus Christ. The constant flow of information drowns out the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, making prayer concentration difficult. This mental clutter disrupts your quiet life, leading to feelings of guilt and frustration.
The content we consume online influences our thoughts and emotions in subtle ways. For example, seeing others’ seemingly perfect lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy or envy. These emotions distract us from the gratitude and contentment that should characterize our prayer life. The more time we spend online, the more we fill our minds with content that may not support spiritual growth. This makes it even harder to focus on Jesus Christ during prayer.
To combat these distractions, it’s important to be mindful of screen time and content consumption. Set boundaries, like limiting social media use or avoiding specific content. This helps create a mental space more conducive to prayer. By being intentional about what we allow into our minds, we can reduce mental clutter. This makes it easier to connect with God in a different way during our prayer time.
4. The Pain of Guilt and Unworthiness
This cycle leads to feelings of guilt and unworthiness. We think, “I should be spending time with God in prayer,” but this is exactly what the accuser of the brethren wants. He thrives on making us feel unworthy, creating a barrier that keeps us from experiencing the peace of God. Over time, this guilt leads us to doubt whether God is even listening, causing us to question the importance of prayer and whether our prayers will make any difference.
Guilt and unworthiness are powerful emotions that can significantly impact our spiritual lives. When we feel unworthy, we may begin to doubt God’s love for us, leading to a sense of disconnection from Him. This can create a vicious cycle where our feelings of unworthiness prevent us from praying, which in turn reinforces our sense of guilt and distance from God. Breaking this cycle requires a deep understanding of God’s grace and mercy, recognizing that His love for us is not based on our performance but on His unchanging nature.
Understanding that prayer is not about achieving perfection but about building a relationship with God can help alleviate these feelings of guilt. God invites us to come to Him as we are, with all our imperfections, and to trust that He hears our prayers and cares about our needs. By embracing this truth, we can begin to overcome the barriers of guilt and unworthiness and approach God with confidence in His love and grace.
Breaking the Cycle
Now that we’ve identified why prayer can be challenging, it’s time to focus on solutions. Understanding the root cause is just the beginning—taking action will change your prayer life. Breaking the cycle of busyness, distraction, and guilt requires intentional effort and a commitment to prioritizing your spiritual life. By making small changes and staying consistent, you can begin to overcome these challenges and deepen your relationship with Christ Jesus.
1. Establishing a Prayer Routine
Building a solid prayer routine or schedule is foundational. I’ve started waking up well before my toddler to spend uninterrupted time in prayer and communion with Christ Jesus. This small change has brought so much peace and order to my days. With a busy 9-5 job and other responsibilities, setting this dedicated time for prayer is crucial. It sets the tone for the rest of my day and ensures I prioritize my specific needs and requests.
My Prayer Schedule
I’ve developed a prayer schedule to cover all important areas and all the different types of prayers. This schedule helps me pray not only for my specific request but also on behalf of others
- Monday: Praying for the church, the body of Christ, and missionaries.
- Tuesday: Lifting up friends in prayer.
- Wednesday: Interceding for extended family members—both on my side and my husband’s.
- Thursday: Praying for the nations, specifically Canada and Nigeria.
- Friday: Focusing on my husband and son.
- Saturday: Praying for myself, including spiritual growth and finances.
This schedule allows me to cover a wide range of specific requests throughout the week without feeling overwhelmed. I also rotate through these categories, focusing on one each week for a deeper, more intentional prayer of God’s people. Establishing a routine like this ensures all areas of my life and own prayers are covered consistently.
A routine provides structure, helping to maintain your prayer life, even when life gets busy. It also helps to set aside specific times for prayer each day, so it becomes a natural part of your daily rhythm. Over time, this routine becomes a source of stability and strength, grounding you in God’s words and faith amidst life’s challenges.
Please if you want a free schedule click free sample to grab yours. It includes a sample of mine and a customizable prayer schedule.
Scheduling Prayer Time
Another helpful practice is to schedule prayer times into your calendar. Just like any important meeting or task, setting specific times for prayer—whether during a lunch break, before the end of the workday, or in small pockets throughout the day—ensures that you don’t miss out. Putting prayer on your calendar acts as a reminder and makes prayer a non-negotiable part of your day. This approach helps maintain discipline and keeps you connected with the presence of God amidst the busyness.
Incorporate Your Child’s Routine
Involving my toddler in prayer has also been incredibly motivating. We’ve made prayer a part of his morning and evening routine, both when he wakes up and before he sleeps. Seeing his enthusiasm for prayer reminds me that I’m not just nurturing my own spiritual life, but also sowing seeds of faith in him. Knowing that I’m leading by example encourages me to stay committed, because I can’t give what I don’t have. You can also introduce memory verse in your toddler schedule. Please check Memory Verse for kids for more details.
Praying During Mundane Tasks
Incorporating prayer into mundane tasks has been transformative for me. Whether I’m doing laundry, folding clothes, driving, washing dishes, or cooking, I’ve found these moments perfect for connecting with God. Even during a quick break at work, I mutter a short prayer like, “Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to cook for my family.” Recognizing these tasks as privileges rather than chores helps me feel more connected with the peace of God throughout the day. This type of prayer can turn ordinary moments into acts of worship, bringing God’s presence into the details of your everyday life.
2. Set Boundaries: No Social Media Before Prayer
One of the most effective rules I’ve set for myself is to avoid social media until I’ve prayed and read my Bible. Spending time in the word of God is an easy way to get in the mood to pray. You might read something that inspires you to pray, not only in your own words but also using scripture. It’s easy to get sucked into notifications and the endless scroll, but starting my day with God instead of Instagram helps me stay spiritually grounded. I’ve found that using a hard copy Bible and a physical journal is helpful, as it reduces distractions and keeps me focused on my prayer time.
3. Praying in a Community
Praying in a community has been incredibly helpful. My church is currently engaged in a 100-day prayer session where we pray every morning from 7-8 AM and again in the evening. Being part of this collective effort has been uplifting and motivating. I join the prayers on YouTube, which keeps me connected throughout the day. There’s something powerful about knowing that others are praying alongside you, even if you’re not physically together. This sense of community mirrors the early church, where believers gathered to seek God’s will and pray together, as the apostles did in the Book of Acts.
4. Supplement with Sermons and Worship Music
In addition to community prayer, I’ve found that listening to sermons and Christian-based podcasts during work is spiritually enriching. I choose Christian content when I’m engaged in tasks that allow background noise. This content inspires me to pray or pause for a quick prayer during the sermon. Listening to worship music when I’m fatigued is one of the great ways to rejuvenate my spirit. It keeps me focused on God and aligned with His presence throughout the day.
5. Keeping a Prayer Journal
I’ve also started keeping a prayer journal, making my Christian life more focused and intentional. It helps me organize prayers and record my spiritual journey. Reflecting on God’s great works in my daily life becomes easier through journaling. Writing down prayers is a powerful way to engage in prayers of petition or adoration. It allows you to articulate your thoughts, bringing your needs and praises before our Heavenly Father.
The Holy Spirit: Our Greatest Helper
Above all, remember that the Holy Spirit is your greatest helper in prayer. You don’t have to rely on your own strength. Simply ask the Holy Ghost for help, and you’ll be amazed at how He guides you. He provides the words you need to pray, whether you’re waking up refreshed, knowing your specific needs, or feeling closer to God. This reliance on the Holy Spirit mirrors the prayer model from Jesus’ disciples. It highlights our need for divine guidance, especially during difficult times. Lean on Him—He’s there to help you every step of the way, offering God’s answers and deepening your personal relationship with Him.
These stages focus on creating a sustainable prayer life that fits into your daily routine. No matter how busy you are, small changes and consistency can help you overcome prayer challenges and deepen your relationship with Christ Jesus.
My Challenge
I’m considering taking a month off social media to clear my mind and refocus on my spiritual life. I believe this challenge could make a significant difference. I’m curious if you’d like to join in. By stepping away from constant updates and notifications, we can create space for prayer and reflection. This space allows us to welcome the presence of God into our lives. If this resonates with you, let me know. We can embark on this challenge together and support each other. Let’s prioritize our prayer life and mental well-being. Imagine the peace that comes from reducing distractions and focusing more on God. We can connect with Him, free from the noise of social media.
Conclusion
Let me encourage you. I am still a work in progress. As I was writing this, I told myself I needed to do better. But please remember this, Philippians 3:12-14:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Tomi
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