And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 
Ephesians 6:18

Pray continually. 
1 Thessalonians 5:17 

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In high school we had a tiny box of a library. Thick, heavy books were crowded on narrow wooden bookshelves. My eye caught the title of an old book just out of my reach on the top shelf. Its gilt letters were faint, barely readable. With my glasses on, I could only make out part of the title, Know Thyself.  This aphorism of knowing myself somehow snagged my imagination and, over time, became a guiding principle in each season of my life.

Are you keen on mindfulness, as many are? Mindfulness is a way of knowing oneself. Taking notice of your body, emotions, attitude, self-talk, breathing, movement patterns, nutrition, and more helps make your need for prayer more apparent. Self-awareness makes room for praying frequently.

In today’s scripture verses, we are called upon to pray continually. “Praying always” can seem like a tough thing to attain. To that end, liturgical traditions suggest praying throughout the day at specific times. For example, many pray in the morning, noontime, and evening. Doing this reminds us to build the habit of talking to God frequently, but not quite “praying always.”

Consider Jesus and his awareness of himself. At Gethsemane, caught in deep dread of what would happen, he prayed that he would not have to be crucified (Matthew 26:36-44). Jesus shared in the grief of a dead friend and prayed before raising Lazarus from the grave (John 11:38-44). After preaching to a large crowd, he went to be alone to pray (Mark 6:45). When he was aware of his emotions and physical feelings, in real-time, Jesus prayed. 

When applying the “Know Thyself” maxim (self-awareness, mindfulness), you will recognize the times you lack strength, need protection, guidance, or wisdom. Pray in the moment of your everyday needs. Likewise when you are up to the task at hand, or feel peaceful, or joyful, a prayer of thanksgiving will pour from your heart. You will find time to pray.

Next Steps

How much do you pray? Do you find you limit your prayers to certain places or times? For example, your prayer journal, or first thing in the morning. Reflect on when you pray most, and consider what other times of day you could add in the habit of prayer. In time you’ll most likely find praying becomes something like second nature and while the rhythm that is most comfortable to you may still be a part of your routine, you might find you’re doing it more often and out of reflex rather than obligation.