8 Prayers to Pray Throughout the Day

When we practice gratitude, it improves our attitude. It’s easy to say “Thank God” or “Praise the Lord” when circumstances go our way, or when God answers a specific prayer of ours. But it’s quite a different story when the unpleasant, unwanted, or undesirable comes our way. Yet, Scripture commands: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When we thank God for even the hurtful and burdensome circumstances, we are being obedient and allowing Him to mold us into people of deeper faith and trust in Him. Here’s a morning starter prayer to thank God in all circumstances:

Lord, thank You for this day and for the air that I breathe. I praise You that I’m able to get up out of bed and face this day. Thank You that You are good and I can be confident that all circumstances that come my way today will be worked for good in my life because I love You and am called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). Thank You for the things that will come my way that I won’t understand and please use them to mold me into the image of Your precious Son. Thank You for my salvation and redemption through Christ’s work on that old rugged cross. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

2. A mid-morning prayer of surrender.

By the middle of the morning, you might be in full swing of running your own life. But that’s God’s job. He makes a much better God than you or me. Busyness is one of the biggest distractions to holiness and personal surrender. The tyranny of the urgent can make us feel we are gods of our business, sphere of influence, community, or world. That’s a great time to surrender the throne of your life to Christ once again with prayer and the act of spiritual breathing. Just as you and I must take air into our lungs and breathe it out again to stay alive, so must we surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit, moment by moment, in order to stay spiritually alive—breathing in His presence and exhaling our pride, self-reliance, and indifference. Here is a way to practice “spiritual breathing” in the middle of your morning:

Lord God, just as I fill my lungs with air to breathe, fill me with Your Spirit by taking control of my very being. I breathe out my pride and surrender the throne of my life to You. And I breathe in Your power, Your control, Your will over mine. I breathe out (and release to You) my preferences, and my insistence on being god of my life, and I breathe in Your wisdom and guidance. Help me to remember that Your thoughts are much higher than my thoughts and Your ways more perfect than mine (Isaiah 55:8-11). Stay on the throne of my heart, Lord Jesus, so that I yield to You in every moment, every decision, every action of this day. As I breathe, moment by moment, may I re-surrender the throne of my life to You with every breath I take.

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This world is not our home. And Scripture tells us to set our minds “on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Jesus also warned us to not store up treasures on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” but to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” which will last throughout eternity (Matthew 6:19-20). When we have a heavenly perspective, or an eternal mindset, our priorities will fall into proper order. When you’re working, shopping, talking, thinking, and even playing and enjoying life, a continual prayer in our hearts can be:

Lord Jesus, keep my thoughts heavenward. Help me to set my mind on things above. Don’t let me get so attached to this earth that I lose my longing for heaven—and for You. Help me not to horde treasures this side of heaven, but to collect divine appointments, meaningful connections with others, and loving acts done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17) for an eternal reward and to please Your heart.

4. A prayer when worry starts to invade your day.

It starts out as a concern, then it grows into worry. Before you know it, full-blown anxiety has taken root in your heart. That’s when it’s time to heed the Bible’s command to worry about nothing and “instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

Here’s a prayer when worry starts to wrap itself around your head and heart:

Lord, I praise You for being in control of all things. Thank You that nothing takes You by surprise and nothing happens to me or my loved ones that hasn’t first passed through Your loving hands. I praise You, too, for Your kind instruction and assurance in Your Word that when I pray about a situation, instead of worrying about it, You will give me Your incomprehensible peace that will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I release this concern to You and I thank You this is now in Your capable hands.

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Confrontation is rarely comfortable. Speaking the truth is also difficult if it falls upon deaf ears. As a leader, or a follower of Christ, you may experience days that are filled with conversations or meetings that require grace, wisdom, and guidance from the Lord. Get in the habit of praying prior to meetings and conversations that could easily go off track or become heated. Rely upon the Lord for His wisdom in how to approach a matter or conversation with a simple prayer like this:

Holy Spirit, You are the great Intercessor. Bring a sense of peace to the room and unity to this conversation by working within my heart and the hearts of those who will be present. Give me Your wisdom, direction, and the actual words to say that will bring clarity to this situation and ultimately glorify You. May we, through this conversation, please Your heart “by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2 NASB).

6. A prayer of thanks before a meal.

Are you finding it difficult to make time to pray with your spouse, your children, the special people in your life? Practice praying just before a meal, not necessarily to ask God to bless the food, but to bless God with gratitude for the food you are about to eat. Scripture tells us every good and perfect gift is from our Father above (James 1:17). So, whether you are eating a meal by yourself at home, or with friends at a restaurant, or grabbing a bite to eat in your car, pause first to thank God for all He’s given you, including that bite you’re about to eat.

Lord, thank You for this food I’m about to eat. It’s another reminder that You provide all that I need. Don’t let me take advantage of Your many blessings day in and day out. Thank You that Your Word promises You will always provide for Your own (Matthew 6:25-26).

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We can tend to be a people who feel entitled—to not have to wait in line, to always be treated fairly, to get the first, and not second, best. Yet, each time you are inconvenienced or your patience is tested, see it as an opportunity to die to self and surrender anew to Christ (Luke 9:23). Here’s a prayer to say the next time you’re cut off in traffic, someone cuts in front of you in line, or your order wasn’t fulfilled the way you wanted it when you’re eating out:

Lord, thank You for every opportunity You bring my way for me to pick up my cross and die to myself. While this is nothing in comparison to the cross You carried, may You use it to shape and mold me a little more into the character of Jesus. Remind me that nothing matters more in this life than the condition of my heart and that my actions bring You glory. May my response to every inconvenience today be evidence of my surrender to You. May others see You through the patience, grace, and love I display.

8. A prayer of reflection at the end of your day.

When we spend quiet moments at the end of the day to reflect on our heart, our actions, and where God was in the midst, we can practice Moses’ advice in his prayer to number our days (Psalm 90:12). Here’s a prayer of reflection for the end of your day:

Lord, Thank You for every opportunity that came my way today to teach me a little more about You, Your love, Your provision, and Your trustworthiness. Show me the ways my heart was not tender, my hands were not gentle, and my words were not said in love. Forgive me for the times I forgot about You and tried to do things in my own strength. Redeem this day and teach me through it so tomorrow I can live more closely connected to You.

For more on growing in your relationship with God, through prayer, see Cindi’s books, Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs, When Women Long for Rest, and When You’re Running on Empty.

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