Many people have asked me this very question, and I always feel there is something beautiful behind it: a desire to love God well. When you ask how long prayer should be, you’re really asking, “How can I give God my heart in a way that is real?” And that is a holy question. Prayer is not measured by the clock but by the openness of our soul.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus praying both briefly and for long stretches. Sometimes He spoke just a few words, like when He called Lazarus from the tomb. Other times, He prayed through the night. The Church teaches us not to imitate the length of His prayer, but the love with which He prayed. A simple, honest moment with God can do more in our hearts than a long prayer said without attention.
What I often tell people is this: begin with a time you can truly keep. For many, ten to fifteen minutes a day is a gentle and faithful start. If you can be still with the Lord for that long—truly present, listening, speaking from your heart—He will deepen that prayer over time. Prayer grows like a seed; it does not need to be forced. And as we grow in affection for God, we naturally desire more time with Him.
What matters most is consistency. Even a short daily prayer becomes like a small flame that never goes out, warming the whole day. You may find that some days your heart lingers longer, and other days your prayer is shorter and more quiet. That is normal. What God desires is not perfect performance, but your faithful return to Him each day.
A Closing Thought
May your prayer time, whether long or short, become a gentle resting place where you remember that God delights in your presence far more than you can imagine.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way.