A “prayer life” can be a confusing way of talking about prayer. Do we say “my worship life”? My “hospitality life”? My “generosity life”? My “serving” life? We understand our whole life to be worship. We see our whole life as one of serving others. Compartmentalizing isn’t always helpful to understanding and living our life in Christ. 

Not praying is not always the direct result of not having the time to pray. And more time, even enough time, doesn’t always equal a better prayer life.

If we view our “prayer life” as strictly what we do with our time, then we’re all always failing. But if we start viewing our prayer life as a “life of prayer” – our whole life as, devoted, entrusted and surrendered to Christ – rather than strictly as the act of praying, then even our groaning and yearning and failing can become prayer (Romans 8:23).

The Psalmist says “I give myself to prayer” (Psalm 109:4). The literal translation is “I am prayer”. He understands his life’s every breath, step, desire, and thought —his WHOLE life—is now from, through and for God. Directed towards God. In reply to God. Nothing in life is left out as prayer. “In him (God) we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:26-28).

Jesus doesn’t want your time. He wants your heart. If He has your heart, then He’ll have your time. He’ll have your life-as-prayer.