In respect to establishing a lifestyle of prayer however, set times can aid the development of a discipline, which quickly will become a delight! If we pray only when we ‘feel’ like it, the unfortunate truth is, we will often ‘feel’ more like an extra hours sleep, or a session in front of the TV, than a time set apart to seek God. Jesus said to His disciples the following statement which to varying degrees is certainly true of all of us:

“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” (Matt 26:40-41 NKJV)

Often, because disciples (which literally means ‘disciplined ones’) fail to develop a discipline of prayer, including a degree of consistency and habit, they never enter below the surface of spiritual life to taste and enjoy its benefits.