Prayer Life in Korean Tradition
“Awake my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn” -Ps 57:8
During the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, there were morning Bible studies focused on prayer. Korean-American pastors shared about the tradition of prayer in Korean Christianity. As a pastor wo was raised in the Korean Christian tradition, I felt inspired to share some of those reflections with you.
Korean Christians place a strong emphasis on prayer. One well-known practice is early morning prayer, often held around 4 a.m. This tradition reflects the spirit of Psalm 57:8: “I will awaken the dawn.” We do not wait for the sunrise to begin praying. Instead, we awaken the dawn with our prayers.
Early morning prayer is an expression of our desire to begin the day with the Lord. Before calling anyone else, before starting our work, and before facing the demands of the day, we intentionally offer our time, words, energy, and hearts to God, who sustains our lives.
Daily dawn prayer is also a confession of our deep need for God, echoing the words of the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is a spiritual discipline that teaches us to submit ourselves to God intentionally and faithfully each day.
In today’s world, many of us begin our mornings by immediately reaching for our phones – scrolling through emails, texts, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Without intentional effort, it becomes difficult to reserve time to be with the Lord. What is the prayer tradition in your home? How do you create space to meet with God each day? I encourage you to intentionally develop a time and place to be with the Lord. Even a few quiet moments with God each morning can shape the spirit of the entire day.
With prayer and hope,
Pastor Hannah
