What a privilege we have to speak to Jehovah in prayer! Our loving God assures us that our prayers are “a pleasure to Him.” (Prov. 15:8) However, do you wish you could linger in prayer to Jehovah? That would be a commendable goal. Some of our prayers will need to be long enough for us to express our thoughts and feelings fully. (Luke 6:12) In this article, we will discuss three tips that can help you to linger in prayer. Your efforts will be worthwhile. Why? Because prayer is one of “the more important things” that help us draw closer to Jehovah.​—Phil. 1:10.

1 SET ASIDE TIME

Life is so busy. Realistically, our prayers will often be short, and there is nothing wrong with that. A prayer does not need to be lengthy to be meaningful. However, if you would like to linger in prayer, you will need to set aside time for it. When should that time be?

Choose a time when you are less likely to be distracted. For example, you could get up a little earlier in the morning or stay up later at night to pray. On some occasions, Jesus prayed early in the morning, and on other occasions, he did so late at night. (Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35) Another example is Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. After she and her family had eaten a meal, Hannah prayed for a long time. (1 Sam. 1:9, 12) She chose a place where she would not be distracted.

2 THINK OF TOPICS IN ADVANCE

Now that you have set aside some time to linger in prayer, what will you pray about? Have you ever started praying and then forgotten what you wanted to talk to Jehovah about? Or have you found yourself in a rut, praying about the same things over and over again? That can happen to any one of us. What can help?

Think in advance of topics you would like to pray about. As you think of different topics, write them down. Then before you pray, look at your list to remind yourself of what you want to pray about. This will help you to make sure that you share with Jehovah everything that is on your mind and in your heart.​—Ps. 19:14.

 3 CHOOSE THE RIGHT SETTING

In addition to scheduling time for prayer and for thinking about what to share with Jehovah, give thought to where you will pray. Choose a place where you will have privacy. Jesus did that. He often went to isolated places to pray. (Luke 5:16) Where might you find the right setting so that you can share your feelings with Jehovah?

You might choose a quiet place at home. For example, a sister named Keirsten says: “I sit by the window where I can see the moon and the stars. In this setting, I feel as though Jehovah were right there with me. This helps me to speak to him more freely.”

Or you may prefer to pray outdoors. A sister named Elizabeth says, “I enjoy lingering in prayer while walking outside.” Whether you are indoors or outdoors, choosing the right setting will make your prayers to Jehovah even more enjoyable.