It’s no secret that God’s people are to be a people of prayer.

Jesus taught us to pray with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

In the book of Acts the early church devoted themselves to it (Acts 2:42). 

Paul taught to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Another translation of that same verse says to be “constant in prayer.”

For some people, prayer comes very naturally. They can do it over extended periods of time. They enjoy it. 

For others, prayer feels like a burden. It takes work. It has to be built into one’s schedule. It’s a struggle. 

I get it. I’ve been there. 

Today let me offer a fresh—and hopefully encouraging—perspective about your prayer life. It comes to us from Dallas Willard, a man who has spent a lot of time thinking about—and putting into practice—biblical perspectives on prayer.

“Constant prayer will only ‘burden’ us as wings burden the bird in flight.”*

That’s a helpful way to look at it. Do wings ‘burden’ a bird? No, they help it. In fact, without it they can’t fly. 

Baby birds need to learn how to use their wings. Over time, they get it. In fact, I’m guessing that as they grow they don’t even think about their wings. They’re just a part of who they are.

So it is with people and prayer. Over time, as prayer becomes a more regular part of your routine, it becomes less of a burden, not more. Sure, it is a discipline that needs refining. And there will most likely be ebbs and flows in your progress. But when we blend it into the routine of our lives, it simply becomes a part of us—like instinct. 

If you struggle with consistent prayer, you’re not alone. But with God’s help, it becomes more natural over time.

“Constant prayer will only ‘burden’ us as wings burden the bird in flight.”

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Notes and extra content:

-“You are a house of prayer.” New sermon. Click here. March 23, 2025.

-Have you subscribed yet to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’? It includes interviews, feature talks, expository sermons and prayers. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

-*Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (HarperOne: 1999), 186.

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.