On our daily list of things to do, prayer should be the first priority. Not "if I have time" or "after I get everything done that has to be done today".
Why should you make prayer a priority? Why do we make eating or sleeping a priority? Why do we exercise our bodies? Prayer is to the spirit what eating, sleeping and exercise are to the body. God gives us grace through prayer. He feeds us through His Word in Scripture and in His words to us through the Holy Spirit. When we pray, God renews and revives us. In prayer God strengthens and tunes our spirit.
It's easier to make prayer a priority if you're a morning person and don't have small children to care for. It's more difficult when you have to schedule it for afternoon, evening or before bed because the temptation always arises to do something else instead. The most important thing is to keep it in your mind as a priority for the day.
But, if at all possible, have your prayer time in the morning. One saying I like is "A day begun with prayer is less likely to unravel." Prayer gives you guidance, grace and strength for the day. I find that when I pray in the morning the Holy Spirit often changes one or more of my plans for the day.
If you can't pray in the morning, you can at least offer your day to God, ask His blessing on you and your family, and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and then have a more extended time for prayer later in the day. You could also read a passage from a daily devotional while eating breakfast or listen to a devotional podcast or CD while driving to work.
Putting God first in our lives is always the best choice. If we do that, everything else will fall into place.
I am the Lord, your God. You shall not (put anything before Me).
Exodus 20:2
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