How can one love prayer and eagerly await it instead of merely performing it as a duty?

Loving prayer and becoming attached to it is achieved by knowing the great reward of those who pray, and that prayer is the pillar of Islam. Through it, Allah expiates sins and raises ranks. It is a divine gift for intimate communion and solace with Allah, the delight of the lovers, and the garden of the worshippers. This is also achieved by striving against the self, persevering in prayer, and diligently supplicating for Allah to make obedience beloved to the servant, as well as by having presence of heart and reflecting on the verses and invocations during prayer.