Sentence Prayers
Week 2 – Pray Continually
Practicing prayer throughout the day
Prayer Practice: Sentence Prayer
Day 9, Monday, January 12
“Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my cry for mercy.”
—Psalm 143:1
Prayer doesn’t have to be long to be real. Throughout Scripture, we see people calling out to God with short, honest prayers—sometimes only a sentence long. And more often then not, that’s all it takes. These prayers aren’t polished or impressive. They are direct, dependent, and sincere.
Sentence prayers help us stay connected to God in the middle of ordinary life. These are “back-pocket” prayers that meet us in traffic, at work, in conversation, and in moments of decision. Instead of waiting for the right time or the right words, we learn to turn toward God with what we have.
How to Practice
It’ll take a while to grow an “arsenal” of back-pocket prayers. Our suggestion? Start with one and use for a few weeks, then try another.
The most common sentence prayer in the tradition and history of the Church is known as The Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It’s a Jesus-centered version of the prayer in Luke 18:13. Once you memorize it, you’ll find yourself recalling it in prayer from time to time throughout your life.
Here are a few more for you to consider:
“I believe. Help me with my unbelief.”
“Not my will but yours be done.”
“He must become greater, I must become less.”
“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Do not grow weary in doing good, for at just the right time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.”
Gentle Reminder
Sentence prayers are not rushed prayers—they’re centering prayers that catch us throughout the day and draw us back to Him. Over time, these brief moments of prayer train our hearts to stay turned toward God in the midst of our hurried lives.
