Pray First, Pray Always
The most important work of the day happens before the first task even starts. When I pray early, it points my heart in the right direction and slows down the hurry that wears down my soul.
A "Do Everything In Love" List
A List of 5 on Prayer:
1. Start the day on your knees
The most important work of the day happens before the first task even starts. When I pray early, it points my heart in the right direction and slows down the hurry that wears down my soul. Then my schedule follows the Spirit's lead instead of my inbox. This isn't just a sweet idea. It's a smart plan for living well, and it sets the tone for everything that comes after.
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)
Watch the clip: [03:37]
2. Prayer is a relationship, not a deal
Prayer isn't a vending machine where we put in a coin and get what we want. A follower of Jesus sits, listens, and "wastes time" with a Father who already knows us and loves us. Asking God for things still matters. But being with Him becomes the real point. Our joy goes deeper when our hearts rest on closeness with God instead of on trying to control the outcome.
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:8)
Watch the clip: [06:28]
3. Stay connected to bear fruit that lasts
A branch doesn't strain to make fruit. It simply receives life from the vine. When we abide in Jesus, our strength, clarity, and staying power come from Him, not from how hard we try. When we tend that connection, fruit shows up in its season. When we neglect it, all our busy activity starts to dry up and wither.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Watch the clip: [13:54]
4. Keep showing up, and delight will grow
Discipline opens the door, and later, delight walks right through it. A praying life isn't built on rare mountaintop moments. It's built on ordinary mornings, a chosen spot, and a few faithful minutes day after day. Over time, the soul starts to want what it once pushed back against. Our habits carry our hearts to God, even on the days our feelings lag behind.
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace." (Hebrews 12:11)
Watch the clip: [22:15]
5. Pray together and expect Christ to be there
When we pray together, we gather under Jesus' promise to be with us. Shared faith, simple words, and a steady rhythm make room for God's guidance and fresh courage. Heavy burdens get lighter, the way forward gets clearer, and love grows inside the circle. Two or three believers can carry what one person can't carry alone.
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)
Watch the clip: [31:25]
Questions That Turn Monologues into Dialogues
Prayer dies when we do all the talking. Jesus modeled listening as much as speaking—asking the Father, “What’s on your heart?” The bravest prayers aren’t speeches but silences where we make room for heaven’s voice. Try reversing the script: let God set the agenda. You might discover He’s been waiting to share more than you’ve been waiting to ask. [24:40]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
(Psalm 139:23–24, ESV)
Reflection: What question have you been avoiding asking God? What might happen if you invited Him to search your heart today?
Steven E Fairbanks
Steven E Fairbanks