I am on day 3 of this 7-week strategy for improving my personal prayer life. There was a time when I was able to focus and pray for hours at a time, but for some reason it has been a over a decade since I have done that. I keep saying that I want to pray more and spend more quality time with the Lord, yet it seems the more I desire that very thing, the more difficult it becomes to do.

So I purchased this very short book (114 pages + Appendixes). This is not an academic study, but a vocational work because each chapter requires a week of work. So if you are looking to 'understand' prayer but not actually do it, then this is not the book you want to buy. This book is written for guys like me that want to learn through application.

Day 1
This day was a total blunder as I struggled to understand the concept and apply it. With very little information to work with, I stumbled my way, fumbling and mumbling, until I completed the very short and embarrassing time requirement (5 minutes).

It was the most intimidating and frightening prayer time I have ever experienced, but I feel so inadequate and unqualified. I feel like a child that has mastered the coloring book and coloring within the lines now attempting digital artwork with Photoshop.

The good part is this: I was focused. I had a written visual aid to guide me in my prayer from one step to the next so that I did not get bogged down in my thoughts and forget what I wanted to pray.

Time spent in prayer: 15 minutes.

Day 2
This day is not much better than Day 1 because I'm still not very clear on the distinction between the stages, so I may be praying the right thing at the wrong time, but I'm not concerned too much about that part.

I did get a little distracted by the written words, so it was a little difficult to stay focused.

Time spent in prayer: 10 minutes.

Day 3
Looking forward to learning more about the stages, but satisfying myself that the goal of increased prayer is being met. The quality of the prayer comes from the heart, not the form or strategy, and that too is something learned by practice, not from a book.

Not distracted by words today, focusing instead on the prayer itself instead of the components.

Time spent in prayer: 9 minutes.