How to pray
A simple morning prayer routine you can keep
· 2 min read
A simple morning prayer routine in five steps, with Scripture to read, a short prayer to start the day, and tips for busy mornings.
A morning prayer routine gives the first minutes of your day to God before everything else fills it. “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch” (Psalm 5:3). Here’s a simple routine in five steps that fits a busy morning.
What is a good morning prayer routine?
A good morning prayer routine is short enough to keep on a busy day. Give thanks for the new day, read a few verses of Scripture, pray for the people on today’s list, give God the day ahead, and close with a short prayer. The whole routine takes about ten minutes, and the steps can shrink when the morning gets away from you.
1. Pause and give thanks (1 minute)
Before your phone, before email, thank God for the new day. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
2. Read a short passage (3 to 5 minutes)
Read a few verses. A Psalm, a chapter from a Gospel, or the next passage in a Bible reading plan.
During Advent, the weekly readings in these Advent prayers make a good morning passage.
The Pray App includes a Bible reading plan you set up yourself.
3. Pray for the people on your list (3 to 5 minutes)
Pray for the people and requests due today. You don’t have to pray for everyone every day. See how to pray daily.
4. Give God your day (1 minute)
Name what’s ahead: meetings, errands, hard conversations. Ask for wisdom (James 1:5) and peace.
5. Close with a short prayer
“Lord, thank You for this day. Forgive me, guide me, and help me love the people I meet. I give this day to You. Amen.”
Tips for busy mornings
- Set it up the night before. Leave your Bible or phone where you’ll sit.
- Keep it short. Ten minutes you keep beats an hour you skip.
- Pray on the go. If the morning gets away, pray on your commute or walk.
- Use a reminder. A daily reminder at the same time helps it stick.
To get a nudge at the same time each morning, see how to set a prayer reminder. For a longer time with God that includes Bible reading and journaling, see how to have a quiet time.
Your morning routine in The Pray App
Open The Pray App and read today’s passage in Daily Bible Reading. Then tap Start praying on Today to pray through the cards that are due, with about how long they’ll take. Set a daily reminder in Settings for the time you pray.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to pray through today’s cards.
Questions people ask
Why pray in the morning?
Morning prayer gives your day to God before it fills up. The Psalms speak of praying in the morning (Psalm 5:3), and Jesus rose early to pray (Mark 1:35).
How long should morning prayer take?
Five to fifteen minutes is a good place to start. Keep it short enough that you'll do it again tomorrow.
What is a short morning prayer?
For example, "Lord, thank You for this day. Forgive me, guide me, and help me love the people I meet. I give this day to You. Amen."
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- How to have a quiet time with God, a simple daily planHow to have a quiet time with God each day, a simple 15 minute plan for reading the Bible and praying, what to do when you miss a day, and how to keep it going.
- How to pray Scripture back to God, with examplesHow to pray Scripture back to God in four simple steps, with examples of praying Bible verses over yourself, your children and someone who is sick.
- How to pray the Lord's Prayer as a guide for your ownHow to pray the Lord's Prayer line by line, what each part means, and how to use it as a model for your own daily prayers, with an example for each line.