In our post a couple of weeks ago, we began to explore the subject of rhythm beyond the confines of its normal musical context. And in spite of the appearance of shameless self-promotion, I’d love to recommend taking a moment to click on that link and take a look. But in case you’re unable to do that, a brief review of how my interest in this subject originated might be helpful . . . 

An Unforgettable Observation ~
Earlier this month, my wife and I had an opportunity to attend a musical concert. As the program got underway and one of the instrumental pieces began, I noticed something I’d never noticed before. There was an unmistakable affect on the audience when the drummer came to life and the rhythm was highlighted in a prominent way. As I mentioned in the previous post, when that happened, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change. People began to move. Hands patted knees, keeping time with the beat. Toes got involved, and heads began to nod. Shoulders swayed side to side, and faces lit up with smiles. It was a moment that I’ll never forget, but not because of the song’s melody or lyrics, or the arrangement employed by the director that night. It was unforgettable because of what I was witnessing about the power that rhythm can have to affect the response of those exposed to its influence.

As the audience instinctively reacted to the beat of the music that night, I recalled that one of my favorite Bible teachers often referred to certain basic activities every Christian should practice as “rhythms.”  It occurred to me as I watched the crowd moving with the beat of the music that I was watching that analogy actually come to life! I realized that regularly practicing certain basic spiritual activities could promote the same kind of effect on our lives that the rhythmic beat of drums was having on the song and, ultimately, on the audience. The possibilities emerging from that conclusion compelled me to consider what some of those activities might be and to explore ways to effectively incorporate them in my own life. 

An Obvious Place to Start ~
Deciding where to begin that quest wasn’t difficult. The first step had to be prayer. Nothing in the entire spectrum of spiritual activities is more vital, foundational, or potentially powerful than our personal interactions with God. Prayer is the single most all-inclusive activity God ever extended to human beings – and Jesus perfected it. He made communion with God more accessible, intimate, and interactive than ever. Through prayer, we’re allowed into the very throne room of God, unrestricted by any of those divisive demographic categories and religious classifications we human beings tend to impose on and shackle one another with. And prayer isn’t just universally available, it is also universally adaptable. There is no human endeavor to which prayer cannot be applied and incorporated. One of my early mentors summed up the role of prayer succinctly when he concluded that, “Nothing of real, eternal value is ever accomplished apart from prayer.”

But addressing an issue as broad and expansive as prayer has its difficulties. Given the countless volumes of material that have been accumulated on the subject of prayer, finding any way to address it that doesn’t sound redundant is challenging. But thankfully, our objective is not to suggest some new approach to prayer or some innovative way to practice it. Our purpose is much simpler than that. We just want to highlight prayer’s foundational, indispensable role in developing and maintaining effective spiritual “rhythms” in our lives. And since rhythm in any context, music or otherwise, is rooted in timing, our first recommendation about prayer is simply this . . . Establish a time to actually do it, because

• • • Thinking about prayer isn’t prayer.
    • Talking about prayer isn’t prayer.
    • Planning to pray isn’t prayer.
    • Promising to pray isn’t really prayer.
    • Reading about prayer isn’t prayer.

No Acceptical Substitutes ~
I’m sure we could add to that list, but you get the idea. There is no substitute for actually presenting ourselves to the Father and engaging in direct verbal conversation with Him. But let me hasten to say that designating a time for prayer does not equate to creating some kind of burdensome legalistic ritual and treating it like an ’11th commandment’. Prayer is a personal interaction with our loving Father and should never be reduced to a repetitious, mechanical, or scripted religious ritual. But if prayer is to be effective in building and supporting other powerful, rhythmic qualities in our lives, it needs to be consistent, and setting a time for it can be helpful in accomplishing that goal.  

Though we can, and should, be ready to pray at any point either when God’s special guidance or intervention is needed or when we want to offer Him our praise, having a regular ‘rhythm’ of time for it promotes a quality Jesus loves.

At least 35 times in the Gospel of Matthew alone, Jesus referred to faith and faithfulness, and prayer is instrumental in demonstrating and maintaining both. In prayer’s role as an expression of faith, the writer of Hebrews said this: 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

Clarifying the Motivation for Prayer ~
We should emphasize that, in the context of this current discussion, the motivation for coming to God is to seek personal communion with Him, not the fulfillment of our agenda or some reward we hope to achieve. Jesus underscored that – both in the guideline for prayer that He included in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:9-13) and in His concluding response to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42). The objective is always that it’s God’s will we’re seeking, not our own. 

We should also mention that the impact of our time with the Father and/or its effect on the world around us will not be determined by how theologically sound, ecclesiastically approved, grammatically correct, or flawlessly delivered our words are. And neither will the hour on the clock, the date on the calendar, or our physical posturing. Prayer is an intimate, personal conversation with the One who knows us like no other, and Who, in spite of that, loves us like no one else can.

One Simple Admonition ~
The point of this brief discussion is plain. It’s simple. We have a job to do that is greater than us, and in order to fulfill the role we were created for, it will require all that we have and more. Prayer is an irreplaceable resource in accomplishing that. Prayer alone won’t change our anatomy or transform other basic qualities that make us who we are, but consistent, rhythmic, purposeful prayer can do for us what rhythm does for music. In music, rhythm doesn’t compose the notes, write the lyrics, or choose the instruments in the band. But it does provide a steady beat that affects all of it. Rhythm brings the other components together in a way that stimulates harmonious movement, brings the song to life, and makes its message more appealing to others. 

Prayer didn’t create and assign the spiritual gifts God has given us ,and prayer alone cannot alter our anatomy or rearrange our natural characteristics. Prayer can’t change where we were born or the culture we were raised in, and prayer didn’t select those who would comprise our family. But though prayer didn’t dictate those things, it affords direct connection with the God who did choose them. And prayer is the access to intimate fellowship with the One whose desire is to use all those things to mold us into the world-changing force against darkness and evil that we were created to be. So, let’s stop relying on “professional” Christians, Bible verse memes on Facebook and Instagram, and eight-minute devotionals to guide that formation process. Instead, give prayer the place in our priority list it deserves and establish a spiritual rhythm in our lives that will invite others to sing along!

“TWEETABLES” ~ Click to tweet and share from the pull quotes below.  Each one links directly back to this article through Twitter . . .

• • Prayer is the single most all-inclusive activity God ever extended to human beings and Jesus perfected it. He made communion with God more accessible, intimate and interactive than ever. Through prayer, we’re allowed into the very throne room of God! @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet) 
  • Our objective is much simpler than to suggest some new approach to prayer or innovative way to practice it. We just want to highlight prayer’s foundational indispensable role in developing and maintaining effective spiritual rhythms in our lives. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet) 
  • There’s no substitute for engaging in direct verbal conversation with the Father. But if prayer is to be effective in building and supporting other powerful, rhythmic qualities in our life, it needs to be consistent. Setting a time for it can be helpful. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet) 
  • The motivation for coming to God is to seek personal communion with Him, not the fulfillment of our agenda or some reward. Jesus underscored that in Matt 6:9-1 and Luke 22:42. The objective is always that it’s God’s will we’re seeking, not our own. @GallaghersPen @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)

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© 2026 Gallagher’s Pen, Ronald L. Gallagher, Ed.S.  All rights reserved.