Chances are you have a fairly set morning routine like brushing your teeth or taking medicine. You don’t have to remember it (though if you’re anything like me, you occasionally walk out of the house without your glasses. . . or shoes).
It’s almost automatic because you’ve done them in roughly the same order so many times.
In the same way, it is possible to turn some of your habits into prayer reminders or “triggers,” as I call them. I’ve previously written about triggers on this blog, but here are 10 easy prayer triggers to turn routine tasks into prayer prompts:
1) While pouring a morning cup of coffee, pray, “God, thank you that your love has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit” (see Romans 5:5).
2) Before turning on the car radio, “Lord, tune my heart to sing Thy grace” (from “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”).
3) While getting dressed, pray, “God, clothe me today with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (see Colossians 3:12).
4) Before turning on the stove or oven, “Save me, God, from being lukewarm in my love for you” (see Revelation 3:15-16).
5) When using the ATM, take a moment to pray for the poor around the world. You might also choose an ATM password that reminds you to pray.
6) While waiting at a stoplight, pray, “Lord, let righteousness go before me and prepare the way ahead” (see Psalm 85:13).
7) When picking up a pen or pencil, pray, “Father, write your words on the tablet of my heart” (see Proverbs 3:3).
8) As you see your reflection in a mirror or store window, pray, “Father, let my life reflect, more and more, the image of Your Son” (see Romans 8:29).
9) When saying goodbye to a friend, “God, be with him or her until we meet again.”
10) When turning a light on or off, “Jesus, let me walk in the light, as You are in the light” (see 1 John 1:7).
You probably won’t use all of the above, of course. But incorporating just a few of these (or others that occur to you) into your daily routine can make a huge difference, injecting moments of prayer throughout your day.
