“When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” — Daniel 6:10 (BSB)
“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:6 (BSB)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” — Acts 2:42 (BSB)
“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (BSB)
This discipline forms me in humility and gratitude. It keeps my heart aligned with God’s will and my mind fixed on Christ. Daily prayer includes both set prayers and spontaneous words, both silence and speaking, both Scripture and supplication. It can be practiced privately, with family, or corporately, and it connects me to the global and historic Church.
Jesus Himself practiced regular prayer, often withdrawing to pray alone (Luke 5:16), and He taught His disciples to pray daily. The Church has continued this pattern, especially in the Anglican tradition, where Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer have long formed the daily framework of devotion.
Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “Daily prayer is how we learn to live with God—not occasionally, but continually. It is the steady shaping of the soul through time spent in His presence.”
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “Daily prayer is not an obligation—it is a privilege. It trains our hearts to seek first the Kingdom of God, to receive His grace, and to offer our lives anew each day.”
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer gives structure to daily prayer through Psalms, Scripture readings, Collects, intercessions, and the Lord’s Prayer. This form shapes our desires, disciplines our time, and lifts our eyes to Christ.
J.C. Ryle wrote, “No time is so well spent as time spent in communion with God. A man may work without praying, but he works without blessing. Let prayer be your first act and your last.” (Practical Religion, 1878)
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “Prayer is the foundation of discipleship. When we pray daily, we grow daily. It is how we walk with Christ and stay anchored in His Word.”
Daily prayer glorifies Christ because it centers life on Him, opens the heart to His transforming grace, and conforms us more fully to His likeness.
St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379 AD): “Prayer is the breath of the soul. As the body cannot live without breathing, so the soul cannot live without praying.” — On the Holy Spirit, 26
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD): “Let your house be a church, and your day be marked by prayer. Begin with God and you will end in peace.” — Homily on Matthew, 6
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “As we eat daily bread, so also we must pray daily, for the soul’s nourishment is no less needed than the body’s.” — On the Lord’s Prayer, 22
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
