The number of times you pray is not as important as the connection to God you make whenever you pray. I believe the secret to prayer is abiding in Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” – Jhn 15:5-7 NKJV
But to answer your question directly, we have a few examples from scripture. In the book of Daniel, we learn that the prophet made it a habit to pray three times daily. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” – Dan 6:10 NKJV
King David also indicates that he prayed at three specific times each day. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” – Psa 55:17 NKJV. Another of the psalms says we should offer a prayer of praise seven times daily. “Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments.” – Psa 119:164 NKJV
As others have indicated, Paul tells us, “pray without ceasing,” – 1Th 5:17 NKJV. This may, at first reading, seem impossible. But I think this goes back to my original point of abiding. If we are truly abiding in the Lord, prayer becomes a natural extension of our thoughts. As we wake in the morning, we can praise him for a new day. When our car won’t start, we can ask that he intervenes in our circumstances and helps us not be late for work. We can thank him for his provision and seek his help when we need him. Prayer becomes as natural as breathing when we are abiding in and enjoying his presence in our lives moment by moment.
If you have a question about the Bible or Christianity, send it to Chuck at chuck@ordinarybeliever.com. I will regularly select questions and post answers. Yours could be next.
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