A chair. A cup of coffee. A Bible. Then add  a bit of my precious time.

At 7am, when I return from my early walk, these things are important to me.

It’s an early walk because I am normally awake around 6am and don’t seem able to lie in! I have been up and about early in the morning since I returned from living in Africa in 2006. My prompt used to be an old faithful friend, Chuba, our German Shepherd. Sadly she died nearly three years ago, and I can’t seem to shake off the need to be out walking.

Back from my walk, I need the chair to sit in! My favourite is a recycled 1950’s style chair bought as one of a pair from an upholsterer in Zimbabwe. The coffee brewed is normally of a Vietnamese type and the Bible was given to me back in 1983 by my in-laws. I also have a sheet of paper with a list of names to pray for. (I’m a sucker for lists!)

Why am I writing this? Well, when I am asked to pray for people, I normally ask them what their prayer life is like? I also get told quite a lot by folks, “I don’t really take time out to pray or read my Bible”. This I find so disappointing to hear, so many Christians don’t take time to ‘talk with their heavenly father’.

I thought I would just share with you that really it’s quite easy to do. Now the way I do it doesn’t always work for everyone. However, we can all have a go and life is less of a blur when we take time out to pray and build a relationship with Jesus.

Think of it as a 15-minute break.

Make a list of people that you are going to pray for, things to praise and thank God for and things to ask God for.

Choose a convenient time of day.

Brew a tea or coffee.

Find a suitable chair where you can sit and be comfortable. Grab your Bible, or if you’re into gadgets and you have a Bible on it, then a telephone or ipad.

Sit and read a couple of verses from the Bible.

Take a moment to thank God for a couple of the good things that has happened to you. Then pray through your list.

It really is that simple.