If you read my last post, you know I preached yesterday on Keeping in Touch with God. During the message, I listed five common reasons why we often struggle with our prayer life, even to the point of dissatisfaction and disconnect with God. Here are five of the reasons I shared in that message:
- Because praying to God is a mysterious thing.
- Because I don’t feel worthy to talk to God.
- Because it is hard to see that my prayers make a difference.
- Because my mind keeps wandering.
- Because I don’t feel anything.
All of them are valid. All of them are common to many. But I am also not naive enough to believe that list is exhaustive. In January, I plan to spend the whole month focusing on prayer (I’m calling it Revolution with a Cause) and I asked the people to write down some of the common reasons they find for not keeping in touch with God. I already had some suggestions given Saturday night.
I. ALSO. INVITE. ANY. YOU. MIGHT. HAVE.
I don’t like, nor did I want, the message to be all what-is-wrong-with-our-prayer-life. I wanted to leave the folks with something positive, so I also talked about Ephesians 6:18 and Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. (Reckon you can’t go wrong by using Jesus) 🙂 Here are the three thoughts I shared Sunday about what Jesus had to say about prayer:
- Don’t be hypocritical. Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16. I always find it interesting that Jesus reserved His harshest words for the religious
leadershypocrites rather than the sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other supposed riff-raff. - Don’t use a lot of repetition. Matthew 6:7-8. God never put a premium on words. Excess verbiage not required.
- Don’t harbor anything against anyone. Matthew 6:14-15. I could say a ton about this but I defer to a fellow blogger who covered this thought very well recently here and here. Take a moment to read his thoughts.
Now it’s your turn. Why do you think we struggle with keeping in touch with God? How about adding to my list? I would welcome any and all additions. One more thing: stay tuned for tomorrow. I plan to use a story related to Reason #3 of the first list. See you then! In the meantime, how about adding to my list? Thanks.
We struggle with keeping in touch with God because:
1. We have a wrong perception of what prayer is.
2. Our journey might not be in line with the will of God.
Two very good ones Mercy. Thanks!
Sometimes we should listen. Perhaps by quietly considering a passage of Scripture. Too often I think we believe we have to fill the silence with words.
Guilty as charged Glynn. I have trouble being quiet and still. Thanks for a great suggestion.
I am not sure whether it can be qualified as a problem, but one of the reasons why praying sometimes seems odd is that when I think about it, He already has it all planned out and perfectly planned out… So what’s the point to ask Him to do something? As a result, my prayers lately have become more of “Help me to come to terms with Your plan and will… because I don’t get it.”
The most frustrating prayer for me is prayer for physical healing – mostly because I believe that if it is in (gotta love English here) His will, He will cure cancer or MS or whatever else – because He can – I don’t doubt that He can heal. But it’s dangerous to pray for healing, IMHO, because we expect the “good-from-our-point-of-view” answers and sometimes that is not what He’s got in mind… So… um. Yeah.
that is most definitely one of those things that will cause someone not to pray or care to pray. Why bother? Can certainly understand your frustration also Zee. I don’t how long I have prayed for physical healing for someone or myself and it just ain’t happening. Frustrating for sure. Thanks for your perspective and input.
I think your number three…because they don’t think they’re prayers make a difference is huge. But that kinda fits into the book we’re discussing on Wednesday. Below the surface God often is working.
Good point Michael. Talking about that in my post. Can’t wait to start the discussion. 🙂 Thanks for coming by.
Sometimes, like the past three weeks keeping vigil with Sara as she made her journey home, I feel so emotionally overwhelmed I just have no words. My heart hurts and the most I can do is whisper the Lord’s prayer or whisper for help.
This morning I felt a tug to get back to my regular time with Him, journaling and praying for my ‘list’of people.
It seems to ebb and flow but always…my core desire is to commune with him. I simply have to make time.
(I was thinking about you Bill at the exact moment you left me a comment! saying a prayer for you…)
Sometimes we do feel overwhelmed. Romans 8:26-27 hits close to home when that happens. So glad you felt that tug to get back to that regular time (especially cuz it included me). Thanks so much Robin for your prayers.
First – thanks for the compliment and linking up my posts on forgiveness.
Second – Prayer is one of those areas that has mystified me in many ways for years. I see that you 5 reasons are accurate with me – I am guilty as changed on all of them at one point in time or another.
I think at some points it could be that it is just not something that is priority. It could be that way for several reasons like it was not something that was made a priority in our home growing up and we just follow that example. Or it could be that at one point we had a prayer not answered how we thought so we think it is not important to pray.
Good thoughts!
First, you’re welcome. 🙂 I believe you are right about the priority of prayer. It is way too easy to push it aside for other things. Thanks for the additional suggestions.
That third one is so important. I remember one day arguing with my wife over something stupid (aren’t all marital arguments over stupid things?).
I was so angry and held a grudge and I remember kneeling down to pray and I immediately got back up. I was convicted that my prayer won’t get passed my ceiling unless I ask for forgiveness. I didn’t. My pride ate me up and I let the sun go down while angry. Worst night of my life.
Been there done that one also Moe. Those kinds of nights are not fun. Sort of like…when will I learn? This one probably hits more than any other. Thanks for the honesty.
I can only speak for me but the only reasons I had for not keeping in touch with God, is I didn’t spend time with Him. I did not really slow down and kneel before Him to praise and seek Him. I prayed when I needed somthing and I read scripture as an assignment. Once I began going to Him only to praise Him and seek His will and combined that with searching His word I haven’t had and issue with keeping in touch with Him except when I don’t show up. He is always there I just choose my way or get distracted with time demands of this world. I have to show up with the right heart. Thanks for your study Bill.
Showing up with the right heart is key Tom. I know what happens when I do and when i don’t. Thanks for the input.
Your #2 and #3 are common thoughts for me. Also the thought that if God already knows me and my needs, desires, etc…, why do I need to ask?
That last question you ask is a common one that i am going to try to answer in January. It will be added to my growing list. 🙂 Thanks Jim.
Hi Jim,
Someone once asked the same question you asked. His name is Billy Coffey. He is a blogger and the title of the article that day was “a question of prayer.” He asked: “But seriously, why ask Him for anything. And really, why pray at all? If God already knows what’s in my heart, why do I have to speak it?” The answer he got from a friend was: “Boy, prayin’ ain’t about askin’. Ain’t even about praisin’, really. Nope, prayin’s about you gettin’ in line with God. It’s not about Him gettin’ in your head and heart, it’s about you gettin’ in His.”
I think that is the answer to that question.
Thanks Mercy. I like that answer. 🙂 Appreciate you taking the time to answer Jim.
You’re welcome.
great answer to this question Mercy!
Thanks Linda.
Hi Bill,
I’m home today sick. Also, I’m looking for new work (not by choice). Too much information, flux, changes in my child’s behavior, changes of directions given to me for me to handle in one month. We did 2 inservice courses in September also. In October I had 2 more courses lined up over two weekends and then a further 16 month course to finish. I wasn’t ready to take this on. The legal case took alot out of me.
Prayer: I suppose that there are different things that could be affecting our prayers individually. I thought about Cain yesterday. What was his situation? He failed because of pride which led to disobedience. He wasn’t going to take ‘no’ from God or anyone else in his dermination to offer fruits and vegetables for his offering. He had grown these himself! He had worked as hard as Abel! (maybe harder) He wasn’t going to bow his knee or his will to anyone.
The next step that occured was anger which led to murder, refusal to admit his sin, and resistance against God. God sent Cain away from him so to speak, away from the only altar of sacrifice.
I think another one could be refusal on our part to accept the ways of God. Like Naaman. His good friend that was with him on the visit to see Alisha the great prophet of Israel, saved his life. ‘If the prophet had asked you to do something extremely hard in order to have healing would you do it?’ the friend asks. Naaman then gets down and dips himself 7 times in the dirty Jordan river and receives from God.
The Lord resists the proud and gives grace to the humble scripture says.
Sorry to hear about the job situation and being home sick. hope you are feeling better soon. I certainly agree that pride is a definite problem with keeping a connection with God. I have been on the wrong end of that one unfortunately. Thanks Linda & do hope you are felling better.
Thank you Bill, for giving me some empathy. What I have gotten so far from people is ‘rah! rah! you can do anything you want’
…yeah,… right… I’ve heard all this hype before….in job clubs that help poeple find employment. According to them if you’re 80 years old formal education is still an option! In fact they encourage it.
One of my biggest issues while praying is because of my mind wandering (Oh a bird, wait focus). I spend about 40 min. in the morning praying while driving to work and I often have a hard time concentrating. Due to being early in the morning I often forget who I’m praying for or my mind just goes blank.
I always know I’m trying to pray and focus on connecting with God. Looking forward to more on this topic.
i can’t drive and pray at the same time. I can’t ride my bike and pray at the same time. I can’t walk and pray at the same time. I can’t be awake and pray…oops wait…that’s not right. 🙂 I not only forget I don’t even get started. Thanks for the honesty Dan and the comment.
I think the third on the list is the biggest one. Why bother praying if God’s not going to pay attention and help us?
Don’t think you are alone Jason. That is one of those big “I don’t know” answers. Thanks for coming by.
Sadly most Christians see their prayer life as more of a sense of obliged duty. I really believe NOT praying kinda comes from a truly unthankful heart at times, and as mentioned by Mercy…not seeking God on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, many do see it as an obliged duty. I have and try hard to avoid that. Thanks for the comment Ed.
I think we don’t pray sometimes (and this may seem harsh, so forgive me everybody) because we simply don’t care. Our life is going well, no trials or tests,
everyone we “know” is healthy, money is in the bank, bills are paid…you get the picture.
I want my prayer life to be a part of my journey with Him, an extension of our relationship…an ongoing conversation that changes me and gives insight into how to follow Him. When prayer stays a “list of requests” mentality, we lose the richness of knowing Him…and prayers become (I believe) fruitless and ineffective.
The closer I am to His heart, the more I understand the purpose of prayer and when I bring my requests, my needs, and desires to Him, it’s all done of the context of His will….making prayer more effective. It also draws me closer…to Him.
Thanks Bill…appreciate your heart!
Funny you should mention that Jay because that was the very first reason someone gave me Saturday night at the end of the worship time. i think seeing it as a journey will help cure the “know-it-all” and the comfort that comes from having it easy. Love what you have said. Thanks Jay.
Praying for healing is a tricky proposition. One has to be closely in tune with Gods grace and actually have the gift of healing.I don’t think just any one can heal. It has to be God doing the healing. We are only the vessel that says the prayer
Mostly it all boils down to how much faith you have in God, How much you trust in His miraculous powers and how you ask for the healing.
I recall a theology professor witness a Paul Cain healing and prophesizing by just giving the statements one is healed or one has an ailment and he goes on to say that person is healed. It has been said Paul Cain had a close relationship with God in terms of the supernatural.Perhaps he had the power of a disciple in modern times.
We fail in keeping touch with God because we are too busy with everything else and don’t list Him high on our priorities list. Pretty sad isn’t it?
agree with the too busy thought Larry. i am dubious on your healing thoughts, especially what sounds like a lack of faith negates healing. Not wanting a debate but felt I needed to express my thoughts of questions. Thanks, though, for commenting. Even those I may not agree with are welcome. :0
The busy-ness of life is the excuse I have often used, though I haven’t normally said this out loud. We pack our days full of stuff even though if we love God we will want to spend time with Him. He deserves to be the priorty.
Busy-ness is often my problem as well Matt. Even as a pastor, that can become an issue. Thanks. Hope you are doing well.
Your list really nails it for me. I know that a lot time I just place my walk on the back-burner with excuses, etc.
Hmmmm I think you can join the back-burner club. Thanks for coming by Jon.