Prayer is like exercise. 

We all know the feeling. We want to be doing more, but life gets in the way and we find ourselves saying things like:

    “I don’t have the time.”
    “I don’t know if it’s working.”
    “I don’t feel motivated to do it.” 

The excuses not to pray (or exercise) are endless, but the truth remains—they are both good for you.

The testimony of the Bible is clear—prayer is a good thing. We ought to practice it more. We ought to see every situation in life as an opportunity to pray.

James 5 is a particularly helpful reminder of all the opportunities we have to pray. Let’s look at those one by one and see if we can find fresh motivation for ourselves today.

James starts with one of the most obvious times when prayer is a good thing for us to do—namely, when we are in need of comfort. 

Suffering in this life is a constant reminder of the comfort that awaits us in God’s presence.

We all face tough times, whether it’s a devastating loss or simply the struggles of everyday life. Prayer should be our first response to suffering as we call out to the ultimate source of all comfort.

On the other side of suffering, James 5 reminds us that even in our most joyful moments, we have every reason to pray. It’s easy to cry out to God when we need help, but don’t forget to turn to him when things are going well. 

When people give us unexpected gifts in this life, we thank them. How much more ought we thank God for every good gift he sends our way?

We often tell friends and family in need that we’re sending “thoughts and prayers.” But as believers, we must be careful not to let this become a casual phrase—something we say but fail to follow through on.

One of the reasons we struggle to pray, especially for someone who is sick or suffering, is uncertainty. Deep down, we wonder: Will God really answer?

Maybe you’ve been there. You pray, but you hesitate. You say something like, “Lord, please help Bob… if it’s your will… Amen.”

Of course, God hears this prayer. But Scripture encourages us to approach God with even greater confidence.

Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father is the perfection of our earthly fathers—loving, compassionate, and always near. Just as a little child asks their father for help with full trust in his love and care, so too should we pray to our Heavenly Father.

So let’s not just say we’ll pray—let’s actually do it, trusting in the goodness of our God who is able to do all things.

Here is where you might expect a list of tips to improve your prayer life. But really, there is only one: pray. 

Pray right now. Pray an hour from now. Pray when you go to bed. Pray when you wake up.

Much like your workout habits, your prayer life won’t get better if you don’t work on it. Prayer is a daily practice—something that gets stronger the more you do it.

So, pray without ceasing, and watch your faith grow stronger every day.

Talk to God. He wants to hear from you.