James 5:13 says, "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise."
It's a theme that repeats throughout the Bible. We're supposed to come before God with all things — the good and the bad. Even the mediocre and the seemingly nothing! Bring everything to God, the Scripture says.
And yet many people struggle with prayer. Even seniors of faith who have been praying for years or decades may find their prayer life waxing and waning. Sometimes, a small change in habit or environment can make a big change in your prayer life. Seniors at the Park Regency Thornton assisted living community might consider some of these ideas for getting the most from prayer time in their assisted living apartments.
Set aside a small area in your assisted living apartment for prayer. You don't have to use it solely for prayer; you probably don't have so much room that you can keep one space for a single activity. But make it a space that you're comfortable coming before God in. It might be a corner in your bedroom or a favorite living space chair.
Keep a Bible nearby so you can reflect on Scripture before or during your prayer, and consider adding a small notebook and pen so you can jot down thoughts from your prayers. Sometimes our prayer life falters because we fail to see what's happening in our lives as a result of prayer. But when we write down notes about our prayers and reflect on them later, we can see patterns of God at work in our lives.
Music is powerful when it comes to mood and memory. You can automatically shift your brain into certain gears by playing the right music. Select some songs that help you get into a prayerful mindset and play them before or during your prayer time each day. You may find that when those songs play, you automatically go to God in more earnest prayer.
Pray while you do other things. Make it a habit to pray as you tidy up your apartment, walk the grounds of the assisted living community in Thornton or crochet a blanket or scarf for someone. When you incorporate prayer into your daily activities, you'll find yourself praying more often, which increases the quality of your prayer life.
Invite others to pray with you either immediately in a group or separately throughout the week about certain things. Corporate prayer is powerful, and it helps you to know that others are joining you in this prayer lifestyle. Ask about prayer groups or lists at the assisted living community or start your own group of neighbors and friends.
If you're reticent to ask someone in person to pray with you, consider starting with an online prayer group. The Upper Room provides a digital prayer wall where you can share requests or pray for the requests of others, for example.
