5 Habits for Better Prayer in 2026

One of my closest friends moved across the country. I’ve learned that in long-distance friendships, every bit of communication matters. Our steady stream of texts and short voice memos is the glue that holds our relationship together. Meanwhile, our extended phone calls (when our schedules align) are what deepen and strengthen the relationship.

Every Christian’s relationship with God thrives with similar habits. A healthy prayer life involves a steady stream of shorter communications (brief prayers throughout the day), paired with more intimate and extensive conversations (unhurried times of solitude with God).

Jesus modeled both forms. Sometimes he’d send up a brief prayer like “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34; see Mark 15:34; Luke 10:21, 23:46; John 11:41–42; 12:27). On other occasions, he set aside extended time to pray—even praying all night (Luke 6:12–13; see 5:16; John 17:1–26).

Many Christians are comfortable with short prayers in moments of need (“Lord, let this meeting go well”) but struggle with extended prayer. How do you use that time? What do you talk to God about?

Consider five habits or mindsets that can enrich your extended times of prayer.

1. Relax and enjoy your Father’s presence.

When I was 8, my dad took me to work with him in Chicago. On his lunch break, we got McDonald’s, sat on a curb, and looked at the city. I don’t think we talked much, but it’s one of my favorite memories from my childhood—simply because I was there with my dad, enjoying his presence and love.

Prayer is, first and foremost, being in our Father’s presence. One of the most common hindrances to prayer is the fear of not “doing it right,” like a student hesitant to attempt a tricky math problem. Yet prayer is about cherishing a relationship, not cracking a formula. It’s not the eloquence of our words but the posture of our hearts that the Lord considers (see Pss. 51:17; 62:8; Isa. 29:13; Hos. 6:6; Matt. 6:7; Luke 18:10–14).

Prayer is, first and foremost, being in our Father’s presence.

I love Dane Ortlund’s words: “Go to him. All that means is, open yourself up to him. Let him love you.” Prayer begins with simply going to your Father and resting in his love. Like any loving father, God isn’t critiquing you. He isn’t counting how many spiritual-sounding words you use. He simply wants to be with you.

2. Give God your full attention.

You may recall a time when you were scrolling on your phone while someone was talking to you. After realizing you weren’t giving him your full attention, you set down your phone and looked him in the eye. Extended prayer times are similar. They are moments when we set aside all distractions and look God in the eye.

Giving God your full attention takes practice. Praying out loud in secluded places (e.g., in the car, in a closed room, at a forest preserve) has been a game-changer in helping me focus. Putting my phone away has been key too.

Prayer walks are a lifeline for me. The combination of fresh air, increased oxygen to the brain, and the freedom to speak aloud to God with emotion is unmatched. Being surrounded by God’s creation also aids worship.

If you get distracted while praying, let it drive you to deeper intimacy. Whether you feel distracted by anxiety, longing, anticipation, your to-do list, or anything else, bring that to God. Lay it out before him. Invite him in. Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

3. Have a plan.

Before I meet with congregants or friends, I always mentally prepare a few questions or discussion topics. My aim isn’t to script the conversation but to open doors for deeper connection. These prompts frequently serve as on-ramps to meaningful dialogue.

Many Christians have experienced breakthroughs in intimacy with God through prayer prompts. The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13) is a helpful guide. Pause after each line and apply it to your circumstances. The acronym ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) can also be helpful.

You can also pray through the Psalms or any Scripture. Gathering prayer requests from other congregants or loved ones and praying through them is another excellent way to spend time with the Lord while loving the people in your life.

4. Be honest.

I still remember the progression of my friendship with someone close to me. The first few times we hung out, we mostly talked about surface-level topics—work, hobbies, food preferences. But at our fourth get-together, we got vulnerable and shared specific struggles. I remember walking away feeling 100 times closer to this person than I did after the first few meetups. Vulnerability created a bond that dozens of surface-level conversations couldn’t forge.

Giving God your full attention takes practice.

Intimacy with God also grows through vulnerability. It can be easy to keep your prayers at a surface level out of fear of admitting weaknesses or because you’ve practiced covering up in other conversations. Yet God already fully knows you, he’ll never sin against you, and he wants to help you.

Next time you pray, be completely honest:

• “Lord, I know you’re good, but it doesn’t feel like it right now.”
• “Lord, I’m tempted to look at something I shouldn’t.”
• “Lord, I’m jealous of my sister, and I’m struggling to be happy for her.”

Prayer is less of an obligation and more of an invitation to let God carry our burdens (Phil. 4:6–7). But we must give our burdens to him in all their messiness. Honesty may feel scary at first, but it’s often the means God uses to set us free.

5. Be patient and remember God is working.

God knew prayer would be a struggle for us. Jesus encouraged his disciples to “always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1, NLT). The apostle Paul reminds us that though we struggle to know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will (Rom. 8:26–27).

Believer, you can approach the throne of grace with confidence, not because your prayers are perfect but because God is faithful to work through them—even when it seems like he’s saying no. God won’t forget a single word or tear (Ps. 56:8). So go to him. Trust him. And rest in his loving presence.