Pray Every Day
Speaker: Pastor Darin Browne
Matthew 6:5-13
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 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.
Prayer is simply talking to God. We dress it up at times, we make it flowery, religious, complicated, we search for the right recipe, the magic words to make God do what we want. We view it as a tool to manipulate God, but prayer is simply talking to God.
F.B. Meyer said, “The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.” Instead of being something that we do every day, like breathing, walking or talking, prayer becomes a bit like the little glass box on the wall that says, “Break in case of emergency.” We very often associate prayer with a crisis, but it should not be that way!
I heard about a pilot who was approaching an airport, and he radioed in saying he had run out of fuel, he was too low and coming in too fast. He said, “I am awaiting instructions.” The tower radioed back, “Repeat after me, Our Father, who art in Heaven!”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, pray without ceasing, but how can we do this?
WHAT PRAYER SHOULD NOT BE…
Let’s consider what prayer should not be, before looking at what it is.
1: A CRISIS THING
Psalms 34:17
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Prayer works in crises, but it should not be reserved for moments of crisis: if all else fails, pray! It is not a last resort when all else fails. We so often treat prayer like this, and while prayer is certainly essential in a crisis, if that’s the only time we pray, we are missing the point.
I heard about a little boy who was mucking up in church. In desperation his father picked him up and was carting him out of church, when the little boy started to cry out, pray for me, pray for me! Often, we only pray when we have a crisis, and it is effective especially in giving us a supernatural peace
Philippians 4:6-7
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
But it should not be the only time we pray. Prayer is the slender nerve that can move the omnipotent muscle of God.
2: A RELIGIOUS THING
Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
You do not have to have flowery, religious language. You should not pray so others think you are spiritual. Religious prayers are worthless, and the admiration you get is all you’re going to get.
I remember one guy opening in prayer in North-East India for forty minutes! In Cassi, I could not even understand it. That’s his only reward. I love praying with some of the Lily House girls, because they just pray using their normal language. (“Lord, I’ve blanked up my life.”)
3: A PERFORMANCE THING
Like the religious prayer, where we only pray because we are obligated.
Matthew 6:7
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Trying to earn God’s favour by performing is “empty phrases.” Being told you have sinned and need to do do prayers as penance. Prayer is not penance, it’s not punishment, it’s a privilege!
Some people think that if they pray a lot, repeat set phrases and babble a lot, God is impressed. They think they will be heard because of their many words. Might as well try a Tibetan prayer wheel, just turn it faster and impress God more! Mindless repetition or empty phrases are not praying, they are performance, religious duty and entirely useless.
4: A SELFISH THING
Jesus prayed, not my will but yours be done, so where do we get off selfishly praying for our way all the time?
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
A selfish prayer is useless, because, regardless of what we think we want, God’s will is the important thing. Prayer should not be just a shopping list of what you want. We decide to pray for a car, job, house, wife, whatever, and if it does not come to pass, we get mad at God. If you don’t get what you are praying for, just trust God that He has better in store for us.
WHAT PRAYER SHOULD BE
Prayer is simply talking to God. There’s no set format. It’s not a magical script, it’s just honest, open, frequent communication with God. It’s a hotline to God.
1: HONEST
Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
Pour your heart out before Him. If you’re down, tell Him. We don’t have to put on a fake exterior and pretend; we must be real. He knows us anyway, right? God is not afraid of how you feel, so just be open and honest before Him.
2: EXPECTANT
If you are praying for rain, bring an umbrella. So often we pray, but we don’t have an expectant heart. We go through the motions, but don’t really think God will answer us.
Psalms 5:3
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
When we pray, we should have an expectant heart. Don’t expect Him to bow to your will, but expect God to lead, to guide, to miraculously do things, and have a faithful expectancy of blessing.
3: CONVERSATIONAL
Formalised, prewritten prayers are not something I use a lot. They can be helpful at times, but I like to just talk to God, then listen to Him. Prayer should be a two-way street.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
I like to just speak to the Lord in prayer at various times and situations, and I find that this way I can continuously be in a state of prayer. I don’t have to pray, “Our Father,” I can just say, “Hey Lord, hey Father!”
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
True prayer is not just seeking His hand it is seeking His face. It’s fellowship with God, talking as friends might talk, back and forth. Which leads to…
4: CONSISTENT
We should pray, yet many of us struggle with consistency. We intend to pray, we plan to pray, but life interrupts. The day fills up. The mind wanders. Fatigue sets in. Before we know it, prayer becomes occasional instead of essential.
There is a difference between a persistent prayer and just a long prayer. Long praying is dull, lifeless, religious. Persistence is praying every day, believing the Lord and not giving up, and not giving in.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
But hear this truth: daily prayer is not about perfection; it is about presence. God is not waiting for eloquent words or long speeches. God is waiting for you. A simple, honest moment – “Here I am” – is enough to begin. Prayer is not a performance; it is a relationship. When we pray every day, something begins to change within us.
THE BENEFITS OF DAILY PRAYER
Daily prayer is dwelling with God, abiding with Him. Sharing moments of your life with Him, both good and bad. Living moment by moment, constantly talking back and forth in prayer with Jesus. He said…
John 15:5, 7
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
1: REORIENTATES US
Prayer reorients our hearts. The world pulls us in a thousand directions – toward worry, comparison, fear, and distraction. But when we pause to pray, we realign ourselves with what is eternal. We remember who God is, and we remember who we are.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
2: STRENGTHENS US
Prayer strengthens us for what lies ahead. We do not know what each day will bring, but prayer prepares us. It steadies our spirit before the storm arrives. It anchors us when uncertainty comes. A person who prays daily is not free from trouble, but they are empowered to face trouble. God doesn’t remove adversity, but He strengthens us to go through it.
Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
3: GIVES US AWARENESS
Prayer deepens our awareness of God’s presence. When we pray regularly, we begin to notice God not just in church moments, but in ordinary moments – in conversations, in decisions, in quiet thoughts. Prayer opens our eyes to a God who has been near all along.
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
4: TRANSFORMS US
And finally, prayer transforms us. Not always in dramatic, visible ways, but slowly, faithfully. Over time, our hearts soften. Our patience grows. Our perspective shifts. We begin to reflect the very character of the One we are spending time with.
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
5: ANSWERS US
1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
When we pray God hears us and answers us. It may not always be what we want, but if we wait, God does answer prayer. And the longer we spend praying, the more our will becomes like God’s will. If you ask in accordance with God’s will, He answers. When we pray, God is already moving the pieces, working all things for good for us, even if things look bad right now.
Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
HOW DO YOU PRAY DAILY?
1: ARRANGE A TIME
Set aside a small moment each day – for me, I have a quiet time with God every morning. It does not need to be long, but it must be still. Speak honestly. Listen quietly. Be still. Susanna Wesley had seventeen children but pulled her apron up over her head.
2: ABIDE IN HIM
Live each moment with the Lord, not just in the time you set aside. Speak with Him often, rest in Him when things get busy, turn to Him often when you have a need. Abiding in Him means every moment.
3: ALIGN YOUR WILL WITH GOD’S
The more time you spend with other believers, with God in prayer, studying His Word, the more your will lines up with God’s will.
God speaking into your spirit will never contradict His Word. When people tell me that God spoke to them about a certain thing, I ask them for the verse and reference. For me, God’s Word is the highest way He speaks, and He does so every day when we listen.
4: ASK AND LISTEN
Matthew 7:7-8, 11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
If you are praying for something, and if you have been for some time, be assured that God is not holding back on things to give you a hard time or teach you a lesson. God is on your side, He is in your corner, He is arranging the pieces, and in His time and His will, He will surely bless you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
So don’t let prayer become a chore. Live every moment abiding in God, connected to His Spirit, trusting Him with whatever you pray for.
Today, do you have a need? Are you willing to pray and wait for the Lord? Will you allow us to stand with you, believe with you and pray with you?