The Practical Disciple

A:   Yes and No.  When I prayed an hour a day for the forty days of Lent last year, I tried to separate the hour into 30 minutes in the morning and 30 in the evening.  The morning half consisted of following the Book of Common Prayer and some free prayer.  The evening consisted of 20 minutes of centering prayer (an old monastic form of contemplative prayer) and free prayer.  If I failed to split the time then I did an hour in the evening typically after everyone went back to bed.

Q:  Which one is better–praying an hour straight or splitting the hour?

A:  Each model yields a different experience and I am not sure I would necessarily rank one as better.  When I had the discipline to split the time, I found myself more attentive of God throughout the day.  Had a I done a full hour in the morning, that may have still been the case.  An hour of prayer really seems to transition me to a more peaceful grounded place with God than the half hour.

Q:  How do you find the time?

A:  Time isn’t found.  It’s chosen.  We all get the same 24 hours a day.  No one is too busy.  They just busy themselves with different things by their choices.  That’s the tough news.  From the Gospel accounts, Jesus appears to have regularly withdrawn for whole evenings of prayer.  Do you think that you are busier than Jesus?  I doubt it, so if he had the time, then you should be able to have the time.

Tip 1:  Have a plan for how you will pray through the hour.  I usually either follow something like the book of common prayer or I begin with praise, move to a time of confession, thanksgiving, petitions and/or intercessions, and listening.  I use some historic pieces as reflect points like the Lord’s prayer or the Apostles Creed.  I prayer scripture as well, singing the Psalms or other music selections.  I make up tunes when I sing Psalms.

Tip 2:  Integrate scripture into your prayer time.  I have interspersed reading and reflecting on Gods’ word throughout my prayer time.  I read aloud praise Psalms often times or begin confessing my sins by first using something like Psalm 51.

Tip 3:  Make yourself unavailable so no one can interrupt you.  Ignore or get away from phones.  Withdraw like Jesus to a lonely place.  You may need to go to your care or a prayer room at a hospital or church, in order to get alone.  You may need to begin before or after everyone gets to bed if you live in a busy house.  

Tip 4:  Pray for an hour multiply times before making any snap judgements on the value or experience of it.  At first you will most likely be very distracted with just trying to figure out how to fill an hour.  When you get over that hump, then observe how the hour is changing you or your relationship with God. 

I hope this helps.  If you want to pray an hour, I highly recommend you have a plan and not just free pray for an hour straight, at least at first.   My experience was that at first it was very hard, but then it gradually became easier.  If you still seem curious but intimidated by the whole idea, then start with 30 minutes.  Trust me, with time the hour of prayer redeems itself very rapidly.  Blessing, The Practical Disciple