21 Days of Prayer ChallengeSample

Day 21: How can I continue a lifestyle of prayer?

From Pastor Roger Theimer

If you have walked through this journey of prayer for the last 21 days, congratulations! Most people do not get through a full 21 days with a regular pattern of prayer and devotions. Don't give up. You made it to the end. Give yourself grace if you skipped any days. God's mercies are new every morning. What's your next step in developing a consistent prayer habit?

Begin by recognizing where your power will come from. A vitalized prayer life is more extensive than our own abilities. Ask God and trust Him to give you the best gift. This gift opens your heart to delight in Him. "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Invite the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit guide your prayer times.

A vitalized prayer life will have its ups and downs. Stay with it. Sometimes it feels like work, and other times it is the most joyful activity of the day. Richard Foster says: "We today yearn for prayer and hide from prayer. We are attracted to it and repelled by it." He goes on to say, "Real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth but from falling in love."

One thing that helps me is that every night before bed, I remind myself: "The most important thing I will do tomorrow is to spend time alone with God. Why? Because He is glad to be with me, and I am glad to be with Him! And we have things to say to each other." This helps me look forward to our time together.

In the middle of this experience is JOY. Like Philippians 4 reads: "Rejoice in the Lord. I will say it again, Rejoice! …by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests to God." That is the joy of being together. It's the joy that comes from sharing our love with each other. I plan for an enjoyable setting for our time together. There's a comfortable chair and lamp, soft worship music, coffee, and a regular Bible reading. My prayer journal helps me answer the question, "What are you saying to me today, Lord?" My response? "Lord, here's what I need to tell you…."

There is no one-size-all when it comes to prayer. But keep praying. And you will experience a joy that you never thought possible in this world. God bless you!

Day 21 Challenge: Identify and instill one habit you can place in your life to help you maintain a consistent and joy-filled prayer life?

Prayer Prompt: For your personal vision for the year

Want more? If you enjoyed this series and are looking for more simple-to-understand, highly-practical, Jesus-centered devotions to challenge you in your faith, please visit www.redletterchallenge.com. Thanks to the King of Kings Pastoral Team (Zach Zehnder, Mark Zehnder, and Roger Theimer) for these devotions. To connect with the King of Kings Online Campus visit www.kingofkings.tv.