“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2).
I recall hearing a musician say about his practicing what I could say about prayer. After a day missed, I know; after a few days missed, my wife knows; more than that, others know.
Richard DeHaan gives this illustration: In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent in prayer. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much. Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”