I’ve spent a great deal of my summer study break reading about and working on my prayer life. I know it sounds weird to say that I was “working” on my prayer life but trust me, it needed work.
One of several resources which was very helpful to me was a book entitled Confessions of a Prayer Slacker
She says early on in the book that her goal is to “Help you find the joy of meeting God every single day, one-on-one, heart-to-heart, until you reach a point where you can’t even imagine starting your day without Him.”
I love that and I so desire that for my own prayer life!
So here’s the deal. Let me know on a scale of 1-10 (10 being absolutely amazing) how your prayer life is these days. Tomorrow I’ll choose 5 random winners and send you a copy of Diane’s new book.
For a lot of the past few months it was probably a 2. It has been improving a bit lately- maybe a 4? I’ve found writing all the things I have to pray on index cards helps. It makes me less likely to wander off than without any prompts and since the cards only have one thing per card there is less of the distraction that can come from having piles of different topics on a one page list.
Probably a 4-5
About a 2. I tend to get very sidetracked and my mind wanders to the seemingly endless tasks as a mother I have ahead of me for the day or week.
I would like to say as a new follower my prayer life is through the roof. But not so much. I know that I have conversations with God occasionally during the day, but many times I have to remind myself constantly. Or they are prayers of frustration. this morning was a perfect example where I even had to stop myself and say “I’m sorry God. I don’t mean to sound like saying good morning to you is a chore. I’m just not sure how to deal with.this.”
all in all I would rate my prayer life as a 5.:(
I think you forgot the other half of the scale… like -10. Okay, so my prayer life may not be that bad, but it is something I’ve struggled with my whole life. I usually find that I’m very selfish in my prayers and struggle with feeling so distant from my Maker. Diane’s book sounds so awesome!
I am with you on this!! it’s sometimes quite easy to slip into the “all about me” attitude when praying.
Well, I have to say here lately it has been about a 4.5. It is definately not where I want it to be that is for sure!!!
I’d have to rate my prayer life at a 2. I pray when there is a “reason” to pray or I’m with a group thats praying. I heard a man from Haiti talk about prayer and he said that when he prays, he prays hard. He can’t remember the last time he prayed without weeping. Whether I’m praying with a heart of thanksgiving, sorrow, fear, concern, etc. I want to pray hard. I wish I prayed hard. Instead, I rarely ever pray. :~(
I think I would have to say it’s somewhere around a 4 or 5…6 tops. It’s a little difficult to say right now because it isn’t as good as it used to be & it’s also much better than it was even a month or 2 ago. It’s amazing how our prayer life changes when life changes.
Something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently is Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I read it in college & it probably shaped my prayer life more than any other book.
Not where is should be….maybe even a 1…if I think of someone that needs prayer then I pray on the spot for them but only specific prayer and….I believe that God knows what is best but I have forgotten to just sit with him in prayer so that I can hear him. I struggle mainly with praying in front of others. I have surrounded myself with great Christians BUT I cannot pray out loud in front of them because I am afraid of judgement……so all in all…I NEED help.
6
I desire for so much more.
Probably about a 2. Often times I fall asleep when I close my eyes at night to pray. Sometimes my mind wanders off and I forget what I’m praying about.
On a side note, the pastor at the church my husband & I attended when we lived in Georgia called little prayers throughout the day “drive-thru prayers” because they were short and quick. My husband couldn’t remember the term and called them “drive-by prayers.” His term doesn’t exactly create the same mental image.
I will throw out the number 4. I am a pastor and I love to serve my people, I love to teach my people, I even love to just hang out with my people, but the thing I consistently fail at is praying for my people. I know I love them and I know I care about their journey, but for some reason I lack in this area.
I lack in my prayer life in other ways to, but this being one I would love to work out.
Probably about a 4 these days. I used to be much better at it. I have improved on my time in His word but my prayer life has suffered as of late. Can’t wait for this book to come out!
I would definitely like to put here that I am a 10 or maybe even a 8 or 6 but sadly I feel like I am at like a 2 or 3. I could do so much more when it comes to prayer.
Isn’t it crazy how we think we can go through a day and not need to talk to Him? He is the creator of the world but it’s like we don’t see the need to use our access directly to Him throughout every day.
Thanks Pete for another great post to make us evaluate where we are spiritually in life.
“Isn’t it crazy how we think we can go through a day and not need to talk to Him? He is the creator of the world but it’s like we don’t see the need to use our access directly to Him throughout every day.”
So well put, Luke!!
Today I’m a high 2, maybe a 3. I’ve had some things on my mind that draw me to pray about them, but, I don’t spend the time building the intimacy my soul longs for. The calls of life’s duties and distractions suck me away so easily…
Well, being in the middle of my Plan B, it seems my prayer life is so much more than it used to be. And I’d only give it a 3 or 4.
I don’t want to run to HIM just when the bottom has fallen out, but it seems as the busyness of life gets crazier and crazier, it’s the only time I do.
I would give my prayer life a 4 or 5, but it’s a really amazing 4 or 5 considering its been a 1 or sort of non-existent-except-before-meals for years. It keeps getting easier and more natural for me to turn things over to God right when I feel them and experience them just because I never want to go back to going through everything alone when I have this awesome God who wants to help me through it. He WANTS to! It’s crazy.
I don’t pray as often as I should. I would say 5, right in the middle. The message this weekend you thought was great. Loved the story about Gage
I’d say 3/4 – definitely not saint level.
But I feel the remnants of what once was a better prayer life, and what could be again. I know it was better because I feel the ache when I don’t communicate or listen for God daily. How can you maintain a relationship with someone if you never speak with them?
Here’s to hoping for better and trying my best!
I would love to my prayer life is a 10, but sadly I think I’m at the other end of the spectrum. I would say it is more like a 2 or 3. Lately, I have found myself questioning why I am here, what my purpose really is. I should be running to Him and talking to Him but I am not.
I’m ashamed to write this but does a negative number count? I’m really struggling with prayer right now.
I am with Brian.
Surely it’s not that bad?????
Well… it is not that good either. I’ve struggled lately in my spiritual walk due to a recent situation at the church my wife and I used to attend. I’m still trying to get back onto my feet and am trying to find a good spiritual mentor to help me.
Praying for you Brian.
Our minister is preaching a series on prayer. He challenged each of us to find an accountability partner and to contact each other every day for a week. I have 2 partners – both teens. I found my prayer journal from 14+ years ago (why did I stop keeping it?) and challenged them to start their own journal. I am going to get back to mine, too. Re-reading my journal brought back wonderful memories of the peace I remember feeling when I was more faithful in prayer. I have learned a great deal about these wonderful young ladies in just 2 days of texting / calling and am so looking forward to continuing this past the initial challenge of 7 days.
Thank you, Pete, for your inspirational messages. Your blog is one of the first things I read every morning.
Thanks for reading.
Last April, 2009 the Lord reprimanded me for spending more time online than in His presence. His word was “intimacy before internet”. Since then I have made it a discipline (and a delight) to sit down with my first cup of coffee and my journal and begin the day with Him first.
Am I still a slacker? Likely so, perfection is far away.. but I am closer to Him than ever before.
6. Striving to be better… Would love to be a 10.
Depends what a 10 is! Is it someone who is really honest in prayer and heartfelt – or some super pious monk who prays 2 hours every morning like you hear about.
Gonna go for a 3.
I would say a 5 right now. I seem to have great intentions just need to be more disciplined about it. When I do it makes the world of difference in my life.
hmmm, probably a 5. i’ve been running pretty consistently which helps a ton with my prayer life and helps me carve out that time daily
Well I would love to say that it’s a 10, but I can not tell a lie. Unfortunately, I must confess that it’s at about a 1! A prayer slacker I am. I would love to have a copy of that book, and be able to hopefully turn myself around!!
I loved your service on prayer slacking on Sunday. Over the last several decades my prayers and attention to God was sub zero for
sure.
Now that I have found Cross Point and renewed my relationship with God I would say I am at about an 8. Would like to say it is a 10, but I am still slightly slacking.
I do wake to a new day each morning and thank God for being with me and show appreciation for all I have been given and leading me back into his comforting arms. As my day progresses I take every encounter with others as an opportunity to be Christ like in my involvement, to try and remember the teachings I am learning and not be too judgmental on others or myself.
I am seeing that taking to heart the way Jesus treated others and taught by example can be an amazing thing in my own life as well as others.
Thanks Kristill!
Man, Pastor Pete, I’ve been wrestling with this also… if I’m honest I would have to say i’m at about a 4… even if I don’t win a book, thanks for posting this.
Honestly, I would have to say a 1 or a 2. When I’m at school my roommate and I carve time out to pray together everyday and that actually enourages me to pray more on my own as well. However, this summer I’ve been doing an internship and I’ve definitely been a “prayer slacker.”
Thank you for this post. I don’t think it’s weird to say you’ve been working on your prayer life, because it requires work, like most things worth working for. Thank you for the reminder.
4….striving to do better…thinking about how amazing my connection with god would be if it were a 10.
I’d say a 6 for me, although that 6 is a result of going through something similar over the past two months. I realized that prayer, of all the Christians attributes, was probably furthest down my list. An excellent book on the topic that helped sparked me to start praying more is The Believer’s Prayer Life by Andrew Murray.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I find myself spiral downward when I am not involved in a study. First half of the summer definitely a 9 (during a study) then spiraled down to now only a 1. Can’t wait to get this book! Thanks for sharing.
5 That maybe pushing it but it’s getting better all the time. I want my kids to pray but how I can get them to when I struggle so much with it. I’m trying harder so I can encourage them. Sounds like a wonderful and much needed book.
I would give it probably a 3, maybe even break out a fraction, and go 3 1/4. Pretty hit and miss really even knowing the importance of it. I always intend to do better, yet for some reason fall so very short of the mark.
I’m a 2 at best lately. and oh the guilt that comes along with that! probably my best prayers right now are at night with my kids as I put them to bed…
sounds like a good book. one to read for sure!
I wanted to put 5 but I think a more honest answer is 3 or 4. I pray constantly but I think I pray more to hear myself work through situations and to pray selfishly than to truly desire to hear and know God’s heart. Instead, I want him to put his stamp of approval on mine. I TRULY long to know what He has to say to me, but I can’t stay still long enough to let Him get it out.
I’ll be honest… it’s a 2 at best these days. I’ve struggled with communicating with God for the past several months. The desire is there, somewhere.
“Help you find the joy of meeting God every single day, one-on-one, heart-to-heart, until you reach a point where you can’t even imagine starting your day without Him.”
That is my heart. Lately, I haven’t been able to muster the strength to fight the frustration of life to plug into God.
Thanks for the reminder to continue seeking God even when it “needs work”. Knowing there are others in my boat encourages me to keep going.
A 5. It is not what it should be – especially the intentional, focused, scripture led prayer that would be so helpful. Instead it is mainly that fairly continuous stream of God-consciousness – my talking to Him but, sadly, not much time spent waiting for His voice in return. “Slacker” – such a good word for me.
I am going to say a 1. I am being completely honest here. I am in a state of “waiting” as I feel sometime in the near future I will wrap up my corporate world experience and enter ministry full-time. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in running a student ministry for one campus of a multi-site church that I don’t make time to pray. When I do make time to pray, I am usually just doubting God and yelling at Him for what I know amounts to nothing more than my lack of patience.
A very guilty 2 or 3. And struggling with being a much better talker than listener.
i would have to say a 6-7. . .suffering catapulted me out of the 2-3 zone and made me much more dependent on the Lord — and talking to Him. . .
I find myself praying fairly regularly, but if I’m not immersed in God’s word, my prayers sound more like a list of demands than a holy act. I suppose I would give myself about a 2.
Ooooh, I hear that. Yeah. That’s how I’d describe this season…. “Help me just get thru today…” type cries of impatience, frustration and irritation at myself and my interrupted schedules. Ugh. Not a pleasant view at all.
I would say I’m a 1 right now.
I’m somewhere around a 1 or a 2
Not that comparing ourselves to each other is the goal, but sometimes I’m pretty much at -10, too. I try to pray more spontaneously, but I sure don’t have any transcendent moments of sitting around for an hour conversing with God, either. Some days I quite honestly wonder if He’s even there, even though I know that He is.
A mediocre 2 at best. I have good intentions, but more often than not, I find myself praying at the end of the day, exhausted and trying not to doze off. I need a better plan. Thanks for making me realize that.
For reasons I won’t explain but recently my wife and I had to sell our home and although not behind closed doors I had my spot in the garage where I had a computer set up etc. and every morning I read the message from My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)read the corresponding scripture and pray. Since our move I don’t have my spot and have used that excuse not to connect to God as I did. Yes I still pray but not the same, so I would say at best I am 2 on the scale.
Two ratings:
4 for those intimate prayer times where you shut the world out and sit in His presence
8 for those ongoing convos with God as the day progresses
hungry for more of the intimate!
Not very great. Probably a 4??? Really don’t know though. It’s something that’s always on my to do list to improve.
I’m definitely a 5. That’s because some days, I’m in prayer all day, it seems. Definitely a 10 on those days. Other days, a prayer is hard to come by. I’m especially bad at intimate prayer, but that’s the one thing I’m really concentrating on.
I’m going with 5. Really good at through-the-day prayers but horrible at at-length prayers once (or more) a day.
I usually ask my patients to scale their pain for me from 1-10…. And I think their answers are way better than mine.
My prayer life on that scale fluctuates from a 0-3. When I write I pray. I pray Foster’s Simple prayer throughout day.
But as of late… my prayer life has been very unstructured and could use an overhaul. An extreme makeover.
Prayer is just very hard for me. I make it hard on myself.
2 or 3….and in desperate need of improvement. After Sunday’s sermon, I realized (yet again) that I have been slacking. It’s so weird, I will be at a time when I’m talking to God like he’s in the passenger seat next to me and then I always seem to find myself at a point where I am trying to do it all without asking for his help or even talking to him about what I’m going through. Things are at a point where they are pretty tough, so Sunday when I realized I wasn’t praying I was like “whew! that’s why it’s so hard! i’m trying to pull this alone!”
Well, i’d have to say a 2. It’s something that I definitly need help on. I don’t know if anyone else struggles with this, but I feel like I shouldn’t be bothering God with the things that I deal with on a daily basis. I know that’s a lie. God knows all there is to know about me and I’m supposed to be able to take anything to Him regardless of what it is. I guess my problem is pride then isn’t it? If we’re not offering it in prayer then we’re essentially saying, “I’ve got this one God”. That’s pride. Yeah I need help in this area!
Probably honestly about a 3 or 4.
My church world fell apart when my beloved Pastor was chased out of our church, back in the begininng of this year. I am so lost!!! I know I need to pray and attend church and other functions but I can NOT!! I haven’t been to church in so long! I guess I really am a -10:(
I’d say my prayer life has been a 2 or 3 lately. I have been relying more on reading to learn about God than listening to Him speak. or me conversing with Him.
3 or 4. Wish it was better! Thanks for doing this giveaway.
Probably a 3 for me. I started a prayer journal about two weeks ago but it seems to have gotten worse since then! The enemy sure has a way of luring us away from what we have committed to…
My prayer life is at a 3. I still everyday believe that the choices I make and how I live MY life lead me to where I am. I dont lean on God for the choices I make and more often than not MY choices were only my good. I need help finding a place for God in my everyday. I need to make time. I know I do one day a week and its sad to say that most times that is all I give Him. I know what I need to do, but its so much easier to not put the work in. I long for a relationship that i want to be perfect without the work that any relationship needs.
i am the lowest of the low at a 1-maybe. Joanne I like your idea of prayer flash cards!
It’s in a sad state. I would say a 1.
i would say about a 4 to 6…it fluctuates more than i would care to admit.
5….While I pray at least several times a day, I am not intentional about meditating on God’s word and listening. I’ve found writing out my prayers or even saying them outloud really helps.
I’ve been going through the desert lately…probably a 2, even when i pray in church or for members of the congregation in hospital settings, sometimes it’s hard to stay in touch. The good news is that i’ve been here before and God always draws me back…
Score: 2…hate to say.. maybe a 1- when it comes to deliberate, quite times with God.
I blame that on my horse dying. when I used to ride in the woods a few times a week, the beauty of nature would make me naturally go into a quiet time with God.
I guess I could walk in the woods by myself but I’m a mosquito magnet.
Score:9 -when it comes to throughout the day prayers.
2 at this time…pray for me as i can’t seem to pray for myself and my family
Sadly, I’m a 2. Would love to read her book.
I want to need time with Jesus like I need air to breathe. And most of the time, my actions show that I need my cup of coffee more than time with my Lord.
I would love this book.
Thanks so much
I love what you wrote. I am the same way.
Well said.
I think I would give myself 5 as I was also working on my prayer life. I was trying to begin every morning with prayer first and then reading a short piece in the Bible.
I felt it really helped me starting the day in a peaceful and focused way – and it felt so good to spend time with God and to be able to pray for others around me.
I still have mornings when I don’T make it, though.
I’m around a 5.7 I know there’s work that needs to be done on my end. Praying to God for help on prayer seems so ridiculous but how else should we approach it? I really don’t care if I win, cause I’ll end up buying this book. Glad you shared it!
I have to admit that it is a 1.5 right now and on a good day 2. But I feel encouraged to see that I am not the only one struggling with their prayer walk. I know this is something that I must strive to do on a daily basis but something always comes up and prayer time gets pushed aside. A lot of excuses…none of them good.
Have a Father-in-law who prayers for hours on end…and hears from the Lord. For me…I too often feel my prayer life is a monologue. I say words but it is to a silent/passive audience. I know scripture tells me different. I am ready to experience the difference.
My prayer life: 2
I’d have to say @ 6.175. Some real passionate times and crazy God moments but a not enough silence and listening. A little hurried as I rise from my knees after only a few minutes and go….I do want to read as I have been a 10 as a prayer slacker most of my life! ( I was called a slacker just this week for missing days on my blog!) Thanks!
I would have to say a 5. I have been reading Plan B right now and basically my prayers have been about accepting His will in all my situations. I am currently going through a Plan B situation and I’ve been learning that it is not about feeling bitter as it is letting go of my illusion of control and trusting God is in control. So my prayer life is a 5 because my prayers are short and sweet, “Let Your will be done. Amen.”
Probably a 5. It could be better (I think it could always be better), but it could also be worse. I’m learning more every day it seems, but I need to work on communicating it. Voicing it back to Him.
Thanks for asking me how my prayer life is going and not God! It would be two different answers I am sure. I would rate my prayer life at a 1.75.
It is interesting that I am currently trying to do something with this mortal body to get it in shape. Lately I have been convicted that if I put as much effort into my spiritual development as my physical, my prayer life would be much stronger. Think Paul had a little something to say about that!
I think my prayer life sucks! But, re-reading The Shack with my 19yo and 10yo I am thinking maybe I am over criticizing myself and my “rule” instead of reevaluating my REALationship with Papa.
I’d say I’m about a 4-5 right now. It’s hard to measure, though. I’m taking care of a 5-yr-old boy who is in foster care with us and I’m praying pretty constantly for the patience and wisdom to give him the nurturing he needs. But the quiet closet, interceding, praying the Word type of praying hasn’t happened in a while! (Yet I have time to read and comment on blogs!)
5 :{
I would say that that on the scale of prayer I have experienced in my life, right now I am at like a 3. It seems like when I was a kid prayer was something I did a lot and enjoyed. Now sometimes it can seem like a chore, that is until life turns cloudy and I realize I need to ask for help. Yesterday was one of those days. But because I had not been diligent about talking to God in what I perceived to be the good times I was ashamed to go to Him in the bad times. I had to remember though, that no matter where we are in life we have never been so terrible that God would not grant us His grace and we have never been so good that we do not need it. That is just a hard concept to grasp. I think The Discipline of Grace is a good book on that though.
I’m in a slacker season right now. I’m struggling to find any kind of consistency in the routines of our household and this new season of life with teens who have soooo many activities out of the home has knocked me down to a one or two for my own prayer life. It’s totally revealed to me that I’m such a creature of habit (to an extreme). When my routine is adjusted or interrupted, the rest of the day struggles from there. While I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE summer break with my kiddoes, part of me is longing for the simplicity of the familiar, regular structure of the school year…
Well, I can’t imagine starting my day without God or spending a day without Him. I pray a lot and the quality of my prayer life has greatly improved….. but I rate my prayer life about a 6.
between 6-8 (varies how busy i am on certain days).
the reason why it’s on the positive side is coz i’ve learned that i cannot BREATHE / LIVE without having a conversation with God. as a single mother…thoughts and worries constantly bombard my mind… so having a person to “release” everything to helps me out a lot…and i’ve found that my safe place is in His presence…(not that i pray 24/7…but i talk to Him through out the day, sharing to Him my inner most thoughts).
i talk to Him like i would if I had a Husband…and He is faithful to always be there for me.
4 this week
Some weeks are better than others.
if we’re talking about consistency, then I’m a 2 or 3 at best. Fortunately, being a newlywed and the challenge of being my husband’s #1 prayer warrior is making me better in the process when it comes to prayer.
My prayer life is probably about a 2 or 3 right now. I think I let just about anything else crowd it out, even though it shouldn’t be too hard to find time to talk to God, even in the midst of other things going on.
I am currently at about a 3….I could use some help with this. I tend to let my external situations influence my mood and it’s all down hill from there. I’m great at praying with other people, I’m great at getting others to turn to God….not so much with myself.
Lately it’s been a 7. Which sadly is better than normal. I’ve only had fleeting seasons of 10. Wish it was more often.
How do I put it on a scale. Gotta say a 10. I say that only because even in my “imperfection” of my “prayer life” that IS my prayer life. It’s sloppy, it’s real, it’s honest, it’s rough, it’s funny, loud, silent, tearful, crazy, joyful, but most of all raw.
Who I am and what He and I talk about IS prayer. What I think is prayer. What I worry about is prayer. Without Him, I’d just be lost in my own brain. That’s no safe place for anyone.
ten
I’ll stop.
I’ll rate myself a 4, which is probably higher than what it should be. This is an area that I know I need to “work” on…
Right now I am about a 9 – but here’s the catch… Life is hard right now, really hard – and I am keenly aware that Christ is my only hope. So I write in my prayer journal at length daily, talk to Him all day long and my husband and I pray daily together. I see that pattern in my life time and again. When I’m at the end of MY rope, then I turn to HIM. When relative calm returns I dip back down in the 3-4 range. I hate the inconsistency and the part of me that fails to recognize prayer as a lifeline for daily living, not just the place to turn in hard times!
One other thought about what has driven me to prayer…I am reading Plan B right now as we have found ourselves smack dab in the biggest B I could have imagined. No words for how much the book is ministering to me and encouraging me to turn to HIM! I keep reading and rereading portions hoping the TRUTH of God’s words spoken through you will penetrate!
I’m so bad that a 2 would be a giant leap forward. I have one deep sorrow that keeps me coming back to Him over and over but I am not consistent.
Pete…I have admired your transparency as I read your blogs and as I listen to you podcast! As for my own prayer life, it also needs work! I go through seasons where my prayer life is completely amazing and other time not so amazing. Right now I would have to say 7+ and increasing daily! God has been revealing Himself in some amazing ways in my life. I have been experiencing Him in ways I haven’t in a long time in prayer! Thanks for the post… I would love to read that book!
i’ve been working on this this summer, also! a friend actually challenged me in this area. at the beginning of the summer i probably would have said a “2″…now, maybe a “5″…
i DESIRE for it to be BETTER! because the taste i’ve gotten so far is SO sweet!!!
I’m constantly talking to God through out my day. I heard a joke once that a woman died and when she got to heaven she said, “Now, I was saying…”
She was in constant conversation with her Creator. I love that.
But I do need to improve the focus of my prayer. So I’d say a 5!
I am a teacher, so during the summer when I have no structure, my prayer life is close to a 3. But I start work back tomorrow, so my prayer life will be a 10! Why is it that when I have the most time, I say the least amount of prayers?
Right now… about a 3. Which is sad. I’ve been working on it over the past few weeks, but its hard to get around all the random stuff and time sucks in my life.
Lately it has been a 2 or 3. I have been so overwhelmed with life that I haven’t made time for concerted prayer.
I would say mine is about a 3 right now. It has been hard to pray lately. It seems like my mind just wanders off into something else, while I’m praying… Definitely a struggly, but well worth every bit of it!
I am thinking it is a bit of quality vs. quantity. I know any prayer is better than not praying, so I think it is good that I sort of mentally chatter with (at) God all day long. I used to be really good taking 30 minutes in the morning to read a devotional or my Bible and pray/journal but that has kinda slacked off lately. I find that I am just so tired after chasing kids for 11 hours a day that at night I barely have any energy and am asleep seconds after my head hits the pillow. That same tiredness means I sleep through my alarm by about 30-45 minutes and am rushing to get everything done before I have to go.
I would say I used to be a 7 but am probably a 3.5 right now…
Oh right now about a 2. I wish it was better and thanks to this post, I’m going to work on it.
I would say about a 3. I feel amazingly close to God when I pray and I try to at least start the day with a Good Morning, Lord…instead of Good Lord, Morning… but I have many days where I allow myself to get busy before I have said a word to the Father.
honestly, probably a 4. some days its awesome, others i get wrapped up and fall into bed before remembering to block out sincere, uninhibited time with Jesus.
I would have to say that my prayer life is around 4.5 to a five.
Today? About a 3. I wouldnt call my prayer life ‘slackerish’ but more bi-polar. Cant wait to read it!
Certainly not where it should be–I’d say a 3.5. This sounds like a great book!
Probably about a 3 or a 4. No where near what it needs to be.
crazy. most days i’m at maybe a 4-6, regardless of how good or bad my life is at that time. recently? i’ve been at about a 15, as i am potentially facing a lawsuit from a large company (insert comment about corporate bullying, etc). that tends to lead talking with God about protection, shielding you and your family, etc. a lot. how’s that for honesty?
2-ish. I’m glad to know that God is there and hears every prayer I lift, but it seems like the only time I “spend” with Him is the hurried “God, help so-and-so” (where so-and-so is most often me) while I’m in the middle of whatever I’m doing. I would love to have a thriving, intimate prayer life, but mostly I don’t make the time, and when I do make the time I can’t stay focused.
Not sure how you would rank this, but I keep an open WIFI connection to God 24-7. I pray and talk to him throughout my day. For me it gets me out of trouble if I fall asleep while I am talking to him. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Thanks Pete.
A soft 3.
It depends on the day, but probably a 4. I’ve been unemployed for 9 months and am pretty discouraged right now.
I dunno…probably between a 3 and a 6. I can tell when I’m in a bad place because of the internal monologue that goes on in my head, me trying to figure out me. I can tell when I’m in a good place because it becomes a little more of a dialogue, just with me talking and getting responses from God. But I know I don’t pray like I should.
Right now it’s a 2… I really would like more discipline in my prayer life.
OK So as of now I would give myself a 4.5 its not bad but could be a heck of a lot better, use to be a .5!
Thanks for your book Pete its amazing so far!!
I have learned to start my prayers with thanks and then the rest seems to come easy
About a 3. Sad, but true…
Unfortunately, 2.
I rate my prayer life a 4.9. I am in a major way trying to make prayer my number 1 go stress-reliever. I still need work.
It flucuates, but remains on the low side. Maybe a 3-4. I’ve got her book on my Wish List, but I’d love to get it free!
I’m gong to go with 4.64430090986098.
But that’s just a rough estimate.
I’d say mine swings between feeling intimate to a struggle to perfunctory- and back again.
Lately, I’ve been helped most by the simple admonition to “ask Jesus” what He thinks about/wants re: the things I’m thinking and working on.
Obvious, but helpful.
I would rate my prayer life at a level 2. It’s not that I have not been praying, but I have been finding it a little hard to hear from God. I have just come through a life change/job loss that had devastated me. Sometimes, I find that I do have a hard time knowing what to pray. I have to say your book, Plan B, has helped me get over the hump. I believe that there is promise in my future and I am looking to God for a new direction. I desire to use this time to strengthen and deepen my prayer life and reconnect in a deeper level with my Savior.
I’d say a solid 7…our church staff meets at 11:45 every day for prayer, and that has really helped me get back into praying a lot.
i suck. maybe a 3
After watching Indescribable by Louie Giglio I would say my prayer life is a 2! Everytime I think about who I am talking to I freeze…
He is my WIFI connection 24-7. I talk to him throughout my day. This way he can download a WORD or verse to give to someone ect. And if you did not know, God does tweet if you add him to your daily life.
Much Love Pete.
Not where it should be. I would say 1-2. I’m not consistent. The book sounds terrific… I need some help.
I’d say I’m a 3 moving up to a 4. Been something I’ve always given myself an excuse for in my walk with Jesus that I’m not allowing to happen anymore.
I’d say 5 to 6. I’m much better than i used to be and have gotten better at setting time aside for focused, intentional prayer. Now i’m just working on keeping the dialogue open and not only setting it aside for a certain time. God is ALWAYS with us and ready to listen….i need to remember that.
Would have to say a 2. Maybe.
I’m embarrassed to say, but probably only 2 or 3 lately. Pretty sad, I know.
I’d say I’m about a 4. I pray often, but not as a discipline which is more what I’d like it to be and an area in my life that I know needs work. Sadly, my prayers tend to be more reactionary, in response to something, someone or some situation.
1-10, my prayer life is 3 cos I’m lazy & I procrastinate. Who would believe that I love God despite that? I read the bible everyday & think about Him all the time! But I just don’t like to “talk”, you know.. Boo.
PS: I’m marking Plan B as one of my top faves. I loved it!
My prayer life is at a low point right now, during a time that I could definitely use more time with God. We have been in the process of moving and I’m feeling overwhelmed with all that’s involved. There are also financial issues as my husband is starting up a business of his own and the “build up” of income will be slow. With so much to worry about, I wish I was more of a prayer warrior!
probably a 4. I have “email” reminders to pop up daily to pray for but on the weekends…when I don’t check my email. My prayer life shrinks to probably a 2.
I think about a 4… I don’t like to say that… and that maybe higher than it really is. The truth? I have been working on this as well… not to be funny but I need some people to pray for me about it.
Prayer has been the subject of the summer for me…reading about it…practicing different “breath prayers” throughout the day….learning a new rhythm….so I would say around a 6. Ask me in a month……probably a 3….just keepin it real!
Seriously, on a scale of 1-10…there are days its negative 5 and days its an 8. But, on average, its probably closer to 3 or 4 then anything else. sad truth…
my prayer life wouldnt even register on a scale of 1 to 10, it sucks that badly.
If I think of praying at all it tends to be me centered at first, I usually catch it and try praying for others first. But all and all it sucks and really needs a change. 
- almost feel guilty to say 8.5. … in my life, I don’t just pray for miracles, I rely on them. key growth areas in prayer have been: listening & obedience. still FAR from perfect but learning/loving more every day.
:/ 1
I recently had a breakup and my prayer life has been tanked by my broken heart. I try to focus on prayer, but not sure what to pray for. I can pray for others, find it hard to pay for myself.
i’d say a 6. when i pray, boy do i pray…but i let life get in the way. i get to busy and am exhausted by the end of the day…working full time, and then taking care of my 3 & 8 yr olds….sometimes after they are in bed, instead of opening God’s Word and praying, i’ll turn on mindless tv.
i know i need to pray every single day, but there are just times i don’t
I’ve seen the power if prayer. I’ve prayed everyday since my dad past away in 1997. I know persistent prayer is answered. Not always the way I want, but answered.
I would love to share the book with a friend though
Yeah, sadly I’m about a 1 or 2 for quite some time now. It’s something I’m always working on, but unfortunately I keep failing at it.
I’d say I’m a 2. Meaning I pray in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. I pray when someone tweets something. I pray when I feel like I might break under the pressure of being a SAHM. I pray when I need something. But I want to pray to connect, to listen and to grow. I want my prayer to be more about Him and less about me.
1-2….Has gotten increasingly worse as I get closer to my degree in Religion. Odd, isn’t it?
Maybe a 2. I seem to let the whole “stay at home mom” thing consume me and let that take every second of the day. My prayer life seems to be great when it comes to something big going on in my life, but when everything is going good I let myself get too sidetracked.