Prayer O’Clock

Week 3 – Pray in Community

Learning to Pray Together

Prayer Practice: Prayer O’Clock

Day 19, Thursday, January 22

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
—Daniel 6:10

Daniel prayed at set times, as he had done before. It’s seems to be part of his “rule of life” - regularly scheduling time with God and making time for Him rather than simply offering Him the gaps between our activities and errands. This practice is especially powerful when practiced together. The Church has long had a history of gathering throughout the day in prayer, during specified times to experience that same solidarity and shared burden. Even when we are apart, a shared time of prayer reminds us that we are praying with one another.

How to Practice

Set three simple prayer moments during your day. Some scholars believe Daniel would’ve prayed during these times:

• 9am — Begin the day by offering it to God

• 12pm — Pause to re-center your heart

• 3pm — Give thanks and entrust the rest of the day to the Lord

To help you remember, you can set a reminder on your phone.

Gentle Reminder

Prayer O’Clock reminds us that the church is not only the church when it’s gathered in one place. Rather, even when we’re apart, our prayers join us together.