Prayer is a crucial time in a Christian’s day-to-day life. It is their time to be in communion with God, to praise Him, to lean on Him, to learn from Him, and to deepen the relationship. God wants men and women to come to Him with all their problems, to commune with them, and to draw close to Him.
Because the sexes are different, we can experience different difficulties and struggles in our spiritual walk. It is important for men to pursue the Lord as men, and for women to seek Him as women.
As women, there is often a push toward being overbooked, pouring too much of ourselves into others without replenishing ourselves spiritually, and needing to have our emotional needs met in a particular way. Prayer is the medium through which God and His people connect; women can improve that aspect of their lives in ways that are unique to them.
Here are three ways women can improve their prayer lives.
1. Have Dedicated Prayer Time Alone
Many women make sure to get prayer time in with friends, spouses, and their children, and even will lift up a prayer in the midst of a busy schedule and chaotic day. Often, what we really need though, is quiet time where we are with the Lord one-on-one. We can praise Him, thank Him, and speak to Him.
We can start by getting up a little earlier, going to bed later, taking time during a lunch break at work, or by creating time in the middle of the day. Even 15 minutes a day can help someone re-connect with their Savior.
All relationships, including the one with God, need to be nurtured. The more meaningful conversations someone has with another person, the better that relationship will be. If a woman is so busy that she cannot feed the relationship with God, He will not be able to support her in the same way. God wants to have regular communication with those who love Him, and dedicated prayer time ensures each woman can grow spiritually, nurtured and encouraged by the Lord.
Relevant verses:
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’” (Matthew 6:9-13).
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
2. Pray the Psalms
One of the most personal books of the Bible, one that many people find speaks to them on a personal and emotional level, is the Psalms. There seems to be a Psalm for every experience. Whether someone is in a great place in their life, or a dark spot where they need to cry out to the Lord, there is a Psalm that speaks to that.
Because of the personal tone that each Psalm takes, it is easy to personalize them and connect with God using Scripture. A woman can pray a Psalm straight as it is written in the Bible, or customize it to better reflect what she is feeling. Praying the Psalms also can encourage a woman to be studying the Bible.
Praying Psalm 23:
Holy Father,
Thank you for being my Shepherd, and for taking care of all my needs. I know that You shall take care of me, and I will want for nothing. Thank you for bringing me through periods of turmoil, to green fields and still waters so that I may have a period of tranquility. It is a time to decompress and grow closer to You, and it replenishes my soul.
Keep me on the path of righteousness Lord, so that my life will glorify You. I know that even if I face suffering, hardship, pain, and death, I do not need to fear any of those things. You walk beside me, and Your presence comforts me in all circumstances.
You have protected me from evil and from those who hate me, but they only hate me because they hate you. You have anointed me with oil, adopting me into Your family through the blood of Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is credited to me. I know goodness and mercy will always be with me, and that I will dwell in Your house forever.
Amen.
3. Pray When You Need It
Sometimes there are deadlines we have to hit, or family needs to attend to, and prayer becomes something only for select times of the day. However, there are moments where the only appropriate thing to do is pray and go to the Lord. There are moments where the only reason a Christian may have the strength or courage to take another step is through the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of God’s love. This is uniquely available to a Christian through prayer.
While it can be tempting to put off a prayer to deal with a situation, or wait till time in the prayer closet, if the situation calls for it, pray right away. There is no right or wrong place to pray, especially in times of great need. It is also important to surrender difficulties to the Lord to avoid the temptation to try to be the problem-solver, or to take on severe burdens alone.
When the Lord Jesus lived an earthly life, He went to the Father in prayer consistently, but when confronted with the cross, He went to the Father multiple times in the night for strength. He did not do it the day before, even though He knew what was coming, but as the night passed.
“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done’” (Matthew 26:39-42).
Faith and prayer go hand in hand, and when a woman needs to have her faith restored, it is the perfect time to pray. While she may struggle with being busy, with being tempted to only serve others, or to soldier on without support, God is always beside her and ready to answer her.
Click here to read 7 Ways Men Can Build Up Their Prayer Lives
Sources
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Psalms The Prayer Book of the Bible. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2022.
Lockyer, Herbert. All the Prayers of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1959.
McGuire, Andy. Everything the Bible says about Prayer. Bloomington: Bethany House Publishers, 2012.
Related Resource: A Prayer to Trust God's Timing
I want to be one of those devoted women of God who says earnestly and with sincere joy, I will trust the Lord while everything is falling apart around her. But the truth is that it takes me a few minutes or sometimes a few weeks to get there. How do you react in the midst of life's storms? How would you like to react? Listen to today's episode of Everyday Prayers for Million Praying Moms from Brooke McGlothlin, as we pray a prayer based on Psalm 30:5.
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Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.