For “The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie, prayer is the foundation of his spiritual life: his daily rhythm begins and ends with structured prayer, and in between, he engages in an ongoing conversation with God.
“Most of what I do throughout the day is more like a running dialogue with God,” the 50-year-old New York native told The Christian Post.
“I bring my challenges to Him, listen for guidance, and try to feel where the Spirit is leading me.”
Roumie’s approach to prayer has evolved over the years, growing in frequency, intensity and intention, especially since his involvement with “The Chosen,” the actor said. He credited his deepening relationship with God to this consistent practice. “It’s about the purity of intention behind the prayers. When you earnestly seek God, He meets you where you are.”
For Roumie, Advent is a sacred time to prepare for the monumental arrival of Christ — but consumerism, he lamented, has overshadowed the spiritual depth of Christmas.
“We’re so used to Christmas being absconded by commercial endeavors and consumerism and all of those aspects of the holiday that have culturally overshadowed the meaning of Christmas and the spirit behind Christmas and what Christmas actually is about,” he said.
“It’s about the arrival of the Savior of the world, and the humility in which He arrived into the world, in a stable by two Jewish peasants in a backwater town in Israel. That can’t be lost on us. I think this challenge really brings people back to the heart of what Christmas is about.”
The Pray25 Challenge features a diverse group of artists and leaders, including Francis Chan, Lauren Daigle and Gwen Stefani, offering reflections and music to enrich the spiritual experience.
“It’s a representation of what the Church on Earth can look like,” Roumie explained. “Despite our differences, we are all looking to the same God who saves us. This challenge shows the possibilities of unity and reminds us how much more we have in common than what divides us.”
“Over the last 2,000 years, so many denominations have emerged. This is a chance to start piecing things back together and focus on Jesus.”
As part of the Pray25 Challenge, Roumie reflects on A Severe Mercy, a story of faith, love and loss intertwined with the mentorship of CS Lewis. Recording these reflections was a deeply emotional experience for Roumie, who said he was moved to tears multiple times. “It’s such a beautiful story,” he said. “I can’t wait for people to experience it.”
The challenge also integrates music as a pathway to prayer, featuring artists like Lauren Daigle and Matt Maher. “Music is an incredible road to people’s spiritual lives,” Roumie said. “Even if you’ve never prayed before, music can lead you to a deeper place of connection with God.”
Roumie’s reflections on prayer come as he’s gearing up for season five of “The Chosen,” subtitled “The Chosen: Last Supper,” releasing in March 2025. He told CP the season is the “best” to date, adding: “People will see a range of emotions and actions from Jesus that they’ve never seen anywhere else, really, for that matter.
“It’s going to be extremely moving,” he added. “I’m excited for fans to see it.”
For those struggling with prayer, Roumie’s advice is simple: start with a conversation.