1Cor9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
DISCIPLINE AND DENIAL
I once listened to a man of God who said he formed the habit of waking up by 3am to pray and study on daily basis. He goes to bed by 9pm at night daily so he can wake up early. He denied himself of television programs at night because of what he want to achieve. That is discipline and denial at work.
Discipline is living as demanded while denial involves sacrificing temporal pleasure to achieve something spectacular.
Just as an athlete would deny himself of certain pleasures to gain mastery, same applies to anyone that desires to be consistent and mighty in prayer.
One of the reasons for prayerlessness is indiscipline. Men and women that are mighty in prayer are people with strict routines that makes room for prayer.
After discovering your body requirement for rest, be disciplined enough to sleep at the proper time so you can wake up early to pray. You may avoid heavy meals at night so you can be light to wake up early.
One of the things I recommend to people is that they should avoid eating heavy meals If they intend to do vigil or wake up to pray early.
Sometimes, you need to engage in long fast to revive your prayer life If the fire of prayer is burning low.
Your prayer life must be carefully planned and given all it takes. For those with very tight work schedule, be disciplined enough to use those spare hours or break time in the office to fellowship with God in prayer.
For sit at home moms, the hours of the day when your husband has gone to work and children are in school can be used judiciously. Avoid unnecessary street gist. Do not forget that you would achieve more spiritually If you spend time with God than with men.
Leonard Ravenhill said: 'To be much for God, you have to be more with God'. That requires some discipline and self denial.
Father, let the burden of prayer rest upon me.