How to pray

How to pray daily with a set time, a place, and a simple prayer list

October 20, 2026 · 2 min read

How to pray daily, with a simple routine, a set time and place, a prayer list, and help for days you miss. Practical steps rooted in Scripture.

To pray daily, pick a time and place, keep it short at first, and use a simple guide so you know what to pray. Jesus assumed His followers would pray regularly. He said “when you pray,” not “if” (Matthew 6:5-6). Paul wrote, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

How do you start praying every day?

To start praying every day, choose a time and place you can keep, start with five minutes, and use a simple guide like the Lord’s Prayer or a short prayer list. Pray for a few people each day instead of everyone at once. A daily reminder helps, and when you miss a day, start again the next morning without guilt.

1. Pick a time

Choose a time you can keep most days. Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Jesus rose early to pray (Mark 1:35). For many people, morning works best because the day hasn’t filled up yet. See this morning prayer routine.

2. Pick a place

A chair, a walk, or your car before work. Jesus said to “go into your room and shut the door” (Matthew 6:6). A regular place helps you settle in.

3. Start small

Five minutes you keep is better than thirty you skip. Let it grow on its own.

4. Use a simple guide

• The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), line by line.
• The ACTS method: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication.
• A prayer list, so you know who to pray for. See how to make a prayer list.

To start from Scripture, these Bible verses about prayer show why and how the Bible tells us to pray, and how to pray Scripture shows how to turn a verse into a prayer. To add reading and journaling, see how to have a quiet time.

5. Don’t pray for everyone every day

A long list can feel heavy. Pray for some people daily and others once a week or once a month. You’ll still pray for everyone, without the list growing every day.

In The Pray App, Today shows only the prayer cards due that day.

6. Get a reminder

Set a daily reminder on your phone for your prayer time. It’s a simple nudge, not a rule.

See how to set a daily prayer reminder on iPhone and what to do when it comes.

For a season of daily prayer toward Christmas, see these Advent prayers for each week.

7. Start again when you miss

You’ll miss days. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Start again tomorrow.

Pray daily with The Pray App

Set each prayer card to come up daily, weekly on the day you pick, or monthly on the dates you pick. Each day, Today lists the cards that are due and about how long they’ll take. Turn on a daily reminder in Settings, and the dots on Today show the days you’ve prayed this week.

The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to set a daily prayer reminder.