Change

Posted on By Prayer Coordinator

Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
Psalms 119:27

SIMPLE STEPS TO STARTING OR CHANGING A HABIT OF PRAYER OR READING AND STUDYING SCRIPTURE

    1. Trust that your desire to change is also God’s desire that you change. Start with a simple prayer such as “God, I want to change so that I can know you. I will need your help. Amen”
  1. Pick only one area where you want to change and identify a simple statement that reflects your desire. For example:
    1. I want to “pray”, or
      1. I want to “read and study scripture”
    2. I want to “pray more often”, or 
      1. I want to “read and study scripture more often”
  2. Once you have selected what you want to change, break that activity down into baby steps. For example, identify a way you can do the exercise under 60 seconds:
    1. PRAYER
      1. When you first open your eyes in the morning, consider praying, “Father, thank you for giving me another day.”
      2. As you go about your day and see things happening around you, consider saying one-liner prayers:
        1. Seeing strangers on the street – “Holy Spirit, I don’t know what that person believes, but can you help them think about God sometime today.”
        2. Hearing an emergency vehicle, “Lord be with the drivers of that vehicle and keep them safe as they go to their destination.”
        3. While at work, “Father, help me be a positive example in my work and help me guard my words, my attitude and my behaviour.”
      3. Remember that God is available to us no matter the time of day or our physical location
    2. SCRIPTURE
      1. Consider starting by reading prepared daily devotionals. These are short commentaries linked to specific scripture verses that include practical life applications. Daily devotionals can be sent to you automatically via email.
      2. Ensure you select a bible that you will read. It should be a translation that you will want to read because it uses the words and language you use. If you are not sure, Bible Gateway (internet source) has all translations, You can scan through the different translation to find the one you like.
      3. Read logically – start and end your reading at a point that makes sense and allows the story to flow. i.e. Don’t end mid-chapter because you needed to read ten paragraphs.
  3. Recap your activity and reflect on what you did. Hold yourself accountable. Think of how you will approach that activity tomorrow and plan to increase your involvement.
    1. Recording your activity in a notebook is known to reinforce a habit. Simple statements such as:
      1. Today I prayed at least eight one-line prayers, which included a prayer for myself, my boss, the bus driver, the homeless fellow I passed today, and my colleagues’ son.
      2. Today I read the 23rd Psalm.
  4. The more time you become involved in your new habit, the more joy it will bring you. Once you feel comfortable that you have accomplished the baby-steps, it is time to move up to a new level of involvement. In addition to your new habit of the baby-step activity, consider spending more time participating in prayer. This could mean that:
    1. You may need to identify a specific time slot to be able to participate in your activity. Remember that you may have to give up another activity to fit this in and so choose wisely.  Missing some time in front of the TV will not hurt us, so consider replacing a little TV time with a bit of spiritual development time.
      1.  Set aside manageable time slots, i.e. 15-minute increments.
      2. Remember that praying for 15 minutes is very different than reading or studying for 15 minutes.
    2. You may need to identify a comfortable place where you will be alone and undisturbed;
    3. You may need to leave yourself reminders such as sticky notes on a mirror or an entry in a Day-Timer.
  5. If you forget to pray, don’t feel guilty. Ask yourself why you missed it. You may have to rethink your location and timing choices. Ask God to help you keep future appointments.
  6. Focus on the reason you are developing or changing this activity. Please do not tell yourself that you have to pray “God says I should.” He wants your heart more than your obedience.
  7. Strong willpower is not a character trait, and it is not a sign of weakness if you can’t “will” yourself to stop or start something. Focus on developing a habit so that eventually, you become comfortable praying or reading scripture whenever you desire.