It’s easy to get so caught up in our lives that we forget to pray or to connect with God. That’s why some of the major religions suggest set prayer times during the day. While some advocate for long prayer periods, short ones can help us remember God, connect spiritually and provide a great practical spiritual practice.
For instance, Jews pray three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Muslims pray five times a day, before sunrise, after the sun begins to decline from its zenith, mid afternoon, just after sunset, and at night. Christians don’t have a set time other than on the Sabbath, although some people say morning devotionals or bedtime prayers. Yet, Jesus taught to “pray ceaselessly,” or all the time.
Buddhists pray in a different manner than other religions, chanting mantras and participating in devotional meditation practices. Prayer and meditation practices vary considerably from one branch of Buddhism to another, with some gathering once and others gathering twice a day to pray, chant or mediate. Yet, in Tibet, prayer goes on most of the time.
For those of us who want to connect with God, to have a spiritual experience, or to have a spiritual practice, prayer serves as the foundation for almost all other practices and rituals. However, prayer times and practices don’t have to be long. You can pray as you wake up in the morning, as we do in Judaism, thanking God for another day of life and for your body parts all working and for your soul being returned to your body once again after a night of exploring the nonphysical world. Or you can say a prayer at night as the Christians and Jews do prior to bed. Christians often pray that their soul be kept safe while they sleep. Jews recite the Sh’ma, their most sacred prayer, and also review the day asking for forgiveness for any wrong doings.
Or you can find another time to pray. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov suggested walking in the fields and talking to God like a friend, pouring out whatever was on your mind and in your heart. Sometimes I do this while on a walk or a bike ride.
You can pray during meditation. Pray first–the talking to God “part” of your practice–and then meditate–the listening to God “part.”
You can pray for a moment before you begin your work, prior to driving your car, as you leave your house, at 12 noon, at 3 p.m.. Or take on the practice of the religion of your birth. Put on teffillin in the morning if you are Jewish (and whether you are a man or a woman). Get a prayer rug and use it five times a day if you are Muslim. Try praying even once a day if you are Christian. Go to a temple and participate in a chanting service if you are a Buddhist.
You choose the time, the place, and the frequency. But choose a time and a place to take time our for God daily. If you don’t, you and God will never form a relationship.
Remember, quality time connecting with God doesn’t have to mean an hour spent praying. Five or 10 minutes of prayer with an honest intent to connect will suffice. It’s all in the intent and the consistency. That’s why all these religious traditions created these prayer practices–to create consistency. To make sure people stopped and remembered God often.
Now, stop…remember…take time out for God. Make time for God.
