“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

The Bible makes it very clear how we should be praying. It tells us to “pray all the time” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 MSG).

That probably seems impossible to a lot of people. Many people find it hard enough to remember to pray at set times during the day, like at meals or at bedtime or during a consistent quiet time.

How is it possible to pray all the time? One way is to use “breath prayers” throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath: “You are with me.” “I receive your grace.” “I’m depending on you.” “I want to know you.” “I belong to you.” “Help me trust you.”

You can also use a short phrase of Scripture: “For me, to live is Christ.” “You will never leave me.” “You are my God.”

Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deep in your heart. Just be sure that you’re motivated to honor God, not trying to manipulate him into doing your own bidding. Breath prayers can lead you into a deeper sense of God’s presence and care, if you let them.

Practicing drawing near to God is a skill; it’s a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practice scales every day to play beautiful music with ease, you can learn how to think about God at different times in your day. You can train your mind to remember God.

At first you will need to create reminders to regularly bring your thoughts back to the awareness that God is with you in that moment. Begin by placing visual reminders around you. You might post little notes that say, “God is with me and for me!”

If you are seeking an experience of his presence through all of this, you’ve missed the point. We don’t praise God to feel good but to do good. Your goal is not a feeling but a continual awareness that God is always present.

That is the lifestyle of worship through prayer. That is how you pray all the time.

Talk It Over

• Try using breath prayers to worship God throughout today. What difference do you notice in your attitude and your interactions with other people?

• What visual reminders can best help you be aware of God’s presence?

• Think about the way you learned to play an instrument or a sport. How can you apply the same disciplines and energy into developing a lifestyle of worship?