If you’ve ever wondered how others spend an hour in prayer, this is the article for you. It will get you started with 15 ways to help you change your prayer life. Think of the intimacy that you could experience if you dedicated one hour in prayer to the Lord.
When I first heard of the concept of spending an hour in prayer, I jumped on the challenge. Confession: I have an addictive personality and I love new challenges! If this isn’t for you, consider dedicating 30 minutes or less instead.
Upon jumping on the challenge to spend an hour in prayer, I made a prayer binder based on the book (will discuss later) The Hour That Changed the World. I made a tab for each of the 12 categories in my binder, where you spend 5 minutes in each section. It worked!
The hour passed in no time, and I truly enjoyed the intimacy I experienced when I spent an hour in prayer. Today, I tried a few new methods, but I definitely have my original prayer binder as a backup. If you want to try some new ways to get started, this article will guide you all the way!
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Why You Should Spend an Hour in Prayer
In our busy world, setting aside an hour each day for prayer may sound impossible. With work, family, and daily responsibilities, you might wonder if you can dedicate 60 full minutes to focused prayer.
Spending an hour in prayer is not about rigidly watching the clock–it is about deepening your conviction in God, growing spiritually, and intentionally experiencing His presence.
There are many Biblical reasons that explain why we should spend an hour in prayer. The first is for a deeper relationship with God–our relationship grows through time and conversation throughout the day with God.
Why else should we spend an hour in prayer? The answer is for spiritual strength, as prayer equips you to face daily struggles with wisdom, peace, and faith.
“Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41 (CSB)
Another reason we should spend an hour in prayer is for guidance and clarity. In this chaotic world, prayer offers a sacred retreat where you can ask the Lord for direction and help with decisions.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
How to Spend an Hour in Prayer (15 Helpful Tips)
These tips will help you spend an hour in prayer and stay focused on what truly matters!
Tip #1 – Wake up earlier than everyone else.
One thing you could do is to wait until everyone goes to sleep. The key here is that you need some Quiet Time with the Lord – a time when you won’t be constantly interrupted. Consider putting your phone on silent and turning the television off (or whatever distracts you) for peace.
Tip #2 – Consider writing out your prayers for future reference.
What do I mean by “future reference?” Well, I enjoy writing down my prayers during my hour in prayer because I can record the answers I receive from the Lord in a different color of ink. Then, when I look back, I am reminded of how gracious I should be and how faithful He is!
Try using a prayer tracker for this.
Tip #3 – Start a prayer journal.
A prayer journal is an excellent tool to use as you learn how to spend an hour in prayer. You can record your issues or problems, focus on gratitude, pray for others, or do it all by attaching tabs to use as categories. Get creative or purchase an already-made prayer journal.
Tip #4 – Use a prayer binder.
A prayer binder can include many elements. You can create your own, or consider using the book called The Hour That Changes the World. This book gives you 12 categories for your prayer binder, and it advises you to spend 5 minutes per category to equal one hour!
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18 (ESV)
Tip #5 – Try a war binder.
A war binder can be made up of any spiritual topics you wish to include. Personally, I use a 5-subject spiral notebook. Then, I added blank Bible tabs for my categories. Next, I have filled up two volumes of prayers that relate to each category. This is a great way to free-write prayers.
Tip #6 – Use prayer cards.
You can use index cards for this, or purchase already-made prayer cards, which often come in a tin box with dividers. This is a smart way to organize prayer requests from other people.
Tip #7 – Pray for others.
Praying for others during your hour in prayer can be very uplifting. Often, when we pray for others, we get more out of it than they might. It can increase your faith to be humble and make selfless requests to our Father in Heaven.
Tip #8 – Praise God for His attributes.
One special way to spend an hour in prayer is through praise. When you praise God, you can tell Him of His wonderful attributes and how they have blessed your life.
Learn how to praise God!
Tip #9 – Keep a running prayer list.
Another great way to spend an hour in prayer is to pray for others. However, how will you know who to pray for? Keep a running list of prayer requests. Maybe it’s the person struggling with 3 small children at the store. Perhaps, your pastor makes announcements listing prayer requests.
Tip #10 – Be grateful.
Gratitude is one of the key components of happiness or of being full of joy. When you show God everything you are thankful for, you are telling Him, “I appreciate all You have done in my life – everything You have blessed my life with.”
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me.” – Proverbs 8:17 (NIV)
Tip #11 – Read books that inspire you to pray.
Any Book by Stormie Omartian will inspire you to pray. I read mine several times and place the date I’m reading them at the top of the page so that I remember the last time I reviewed the material. I also put the date I pray the prayers on the pages that have her prayers.
The Hour that Changes the World – This is a book that offers a practical plan for personal prayer. That’s a mouthful! It shows you how to pray for the world, your family, your friends, and many more categories, using a prayer wheel. It helps you spend an hour in prayer easily!
Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur is a great Bible study to review over and again, as you will learn something new every time you read the book.
There are many more of my recommended books and resources in the Resource Section of this article! Be sure to check it out!!
Tip #12 – Remember what Jesus said about prayer.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus is teaching His apostles how to pray. He teaches them the Lord’s Prayer. It is a wonderful prayer to commit to memory as you learn how to pray.
Tip #13 – Pray for each of your struggles and blessings.
Keep a balanced prayer time. It’s not just about praising God or counting your blessings – though those things are important. It can also be about praying about your struggles and what you have learned from them. How have they helped you grow? Thank God for them!
Tip #14 – Express yourself. Be honest with God.
God knows your every thought, but He still wants to hear from His children. That being said, you should always be honest in prayer. There is no point in being boastful or making yourself look better than you really are. Instead, be humble in prayer. Be honest. Be real. He loves you.
Tip #15 – Confess your sins.
A great element to add to your hour in prayer is confession. If you can’t think of any sin that you have committed, consider asking God to reveal them in your heart. He will. It will come to you, and you’ll know exactly what you need to confess. You can also pray for the sins of others.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 (NIV)
Recommended Resources to Spend an Hour in Prayer
FREE Resources
The Lord’s Prayer Printable Art
51 Praying for Your Husband Prayer Cards
Praying for Your Future Husband Prayer Cards
Printable War Room Prayers and Scriptures
Find more FREE printables in the Shop at Sharing Life and Love.
Books
The Hour That Changes the World
Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
The Essentials of Effective Prayer (40-Minute Bible Study)
Conclusion
What did you learn about how to spend an hour in prayer? Will you give it a try? I can pretty much guarantee if you give an hour in prayer a try, it will change your life. You will be closer to God like never before. Isn’t that closeness, that intimacy, with God what you are craving?
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” –(Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)
