Chances are you have a fairly set morning routine like brushing your teeth or taking medicine. You don’t have to remember it (though if you’re anything like me, you occasionally walk out of the house without your glasses. . . or shoes).
It’s almost automatic because you’ve done them in roughly the same order so many times.
In the same way, it is possible to turn some of your habits into prayer reminders or “triggers,” as I call them. I’ve previously written about triggers on this blog, but here are 10 easy prayer triggers to turn routine tasks into prayer prompts:
1) While pouring a morning cup of coffee, pray, “God, thank you that your love has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit” (see Romans 5:5).
2) Before turning on the car radio, “Lord, tune my heart to sing Thy grace” (from “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”).
3) While getting dressed, pray, “God, clothe me today with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (see Colossians 3:12).
4) Before turning on the stove or oven, “Save me, God, from being lukewarm in my love for you” (see Revelation 3:15-16).
5) When using the ATM, take a moment to pray for the poor around the world. You might also choose an ATM password that reminds you to pray.
6) While waiting at a stoplight, pray, “Lord, let righteousness go before me and prepare the way ahead” (see Psalm 85:13).
7) When picking up a pen or pencil, pray, “Father, write your words on the tablet of my heart” (see Proverbs 3:3).
8) As you see your reflection in a mirror or store window, pray, “Father, let my life reflect, more and more, the image of Your Son” (see Romans 8:29).
9) When saying goodbye to a friend, “God, be with him or her until we meet again.”
10) When turning a light on or off, “Jesus, let me walk in the light, as You are in the light” (see 1 John 1:7).
You probably won’t use all of the above, of course. But incorporating just a few of these (or others that occur to you) into your daily routine can make a huge difference, injecting moments of prayer throughout your day.
1) Keep a Daily Journal
Like anything else worthwhile, gratitude takes practice. And most experts recommend practicing by writing it down. A daily gratitude list or journal in which you jot down five things each morning can be a great help. Or you can find a gratitude buddy you email or text every day. Some people keep a gratitude jar. If you're a devout non-writer-down-er, try numerating your gratefulness each night before dinner, or counting blessings instead of sheep at night, naming the best stuff as you drift off.
2) Train Your Brain to Seek Good
Gratitude studies have revealed that details make it stronger. Instead of listing "my health" and "my wonderful family," try something like: "being able to hike on Saturday without getting out of breath" and "eating my sister-in-law's delicious veggie lasagna." This will help train your brain to seek good—a helpful, neurology-altering talent, especially if you're prone to seeing what needs fixing.
3) Thank People
Sharing your gratitude can benefit both you and the person you're thanking. On a regular basis think of people to write little grateful notes to, and again, be specific, thanking people for an action or simply for who they are to you. The recipient can be a friend or a relative, a politician or an author—someone who has moved you. Make sure it's simple and sweet—all about them, a small, potent word-gift from your heart to theirs.
4) Get an Emergency Gratitude Intervention
If you're feeling down and your head is filled with negative thoughts, it's time for a gratitude intervention. Even if it's not your regularly scheduled gratitude time, grab a piece of paper (real or digital) and write down five things you're thankful for in vivid, specific detail. Maybe it's about finding the gem in a lousy situation: "I'm so glad for the nurse who cared for my mom with such tenderness." Maybe it's about noticing the one good thing that happened that day: "The sun was shining right in my window all morning."
5) Re-play Happy Moments
Remembering joyful life events and savoring how they make you feel imprints them in your emotional brain. The next time something wonderful happens—a vacation, a fun day with a friend, a spectacular visit to nature—write it down soon after. Note exactly what made you so thrilled. You'll get to re-live it while you write it and you'll have specific memories preserved that you can look at when you need a boost.
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