What prompts you to pray? Perhaps it’s not as much a prompt but a drive. Most people pray at some point, even if it’s not until they feel trapped in a dark corner of desperation and they pray with vagueness. Some people pray immediately, but it’s not personal. It’s a habit of obligation. Some people pray from a humble posture. Some people pray out of an intentional relationship.

How do you pray?

Be authentic. Maybe you’re where you want to be in your prayer life. Maybe it doesn’t matter to you. I hope everyone at least reflects and doesn’t give a knee-jerk response. It’s not about how you feel right now or what your habits are right now. It’s broader. You have history, and you have a future. You’ve experienced highs and lows, and you will continue into highs and lows, perhaps higher and deeper than you’ve ever known. You might assume you’ll respond to each in a predictable way. And maybe you will. But maybe you’ll need something different, deeper, more personal.

I’ve learned preparation positions us for the most challenging situations in our lives. We can’t plan everything, but we can prepare. It’s not a specific preparation; it’s foundational. It’s what determines our response in the chaotic turmoil that may unexpectedly flood our lives.

Prayer preparation isn’t limited to simply thinking about our personal approach to prayer. Preparation comes from any priority we place in our lives. Preparation comes from how we spend our time, especially in our mind and heart. What are our reflections? What do we choose to reflect on and think about? What boundaries do we have within our thoughts and the relationships that impact them? How do we open or close our hearts?

I’ve spent time authentically reflecting on my own preparations today. What about you?

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