I hang out with enough Christian leaders to know that prayer is a challenge for just about every serious believer. Few of us pray as long or as fervently as we wish we did.
The truth is, prayer is the most important action we can take in just about any situation. Satan knows this. Which is why there is a spiritual battle that goes on in our minds regarding the very subject of prayer. The battle rages in our minds, and if we’re not careful, we can succumb to wrong and terrible thinking when it comes to prayer. I know because I’ve done it personally.
The four reasons I don’t pray:
1. I believe prayer doesn’t work.
Sometimes when I think about praying, this little thought flashes through my mind, “Prayer won’t help because God doesn’t respond very often.” If I’m not careful, that little lie can keep me from the most important activity of my day.
2. I don’t believe prayer is an effective use of my time.
At other times, a second thought comes to me. “Reading that article or making that phone call will reap you immediate benefits. Prayer won’t.” Again, a lie. But that’s all Satan has to throw at me, so he throws it even though even he knows it isn’t true.
3. God is usually silent when I pray.
At still other times I think, “Why should I pray? I won’t hear from God.” What could be farther from the truth? Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.”
4. I’m lazy.
Of all the reasons not to pray, this is the only one that’s true. When I choose not to pray it’s because prayer is work. It requires mental concentration, and I don’t feel like concentrating.
The first three reasons I don’t pray are lies from the pit of hell.
Prayer does work.
Ps. 17:6 says, “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me.” Jesus said, “Everyone who asks receives.” (Luke 11:10). As a father, I respond to every request my children make of me and I respond with whatever is best for them. God does too! He loves to answer your prayers.
Prayer is an effective use of my time.
Every moment spent with my wife may not be productive, but without those moments our relationship would diminish. Time spent with God is never wasted time. Quite the opposite: time spent with God is incredibly valuable for your life now and your life in eternity, as well as for the granting of the requests you bring him.
God is never silent.
Sometimes I don’t hear him. Usually that’s because I’m not listening, or because (like a child) I refuse to hear what he’s saying. Sometimes when I’m praying, a thought will come to me that’s a bit off-topic. Often that off-topic thought is a whisper from God. More and more these days I’m trying to spend the day with the Lord. So, if I get an off-topic thought during my prayer time, I’ll jump up and act on it or write it down to act on later. Then, I get back to my conversation with the Lord. Just like when I’m meeting with my staff. Sometimes we’ll come up with an idea that needs to be acted on or written down, but our meeting continues. We act on the idea and keep on talking.
I want to talk with God all day long. After all, he’s always talking to me. God is a communicating God. He has been in perpetual conversation, Father to Son to Holy Spirit, for all of eternity. I want to get in on that conversation as much and as often as possible. The ideal is to begin my day in prayer and then keep the conversation going all day long.
So then, the truth is, the reason I don’t pray, or don’t pray more, or don’t pray more fervently is because I’m lazy. I will be effective in prayer if I walk in righteousness (Ps. 66:18) and I present my requests to the Lord (Phil. 4:6).
So why should I pray?
For the reasons above, and for these three more:
1. Because the Lord loves to hear the sound of my voice.
Like Solomon with his lover, God loves to be with me. No sound in the universe is sweeter to him than the sound of my words directed towards him.
2. Prayer changes me.
As I speak with the Lord, my perspective changes. I see things with better, more righteous eyes. And my motives change. I want to do better things with better intentions. And my backbone strengthens. I do God’s will with deeper conviction, and I resist sin with greater resolve.
3. Without God’s assistance, no other activity accomplishes anything of lasting worth.
Jesus said, “No branch can bear fruit by itself… Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” So what’s the point of doing anything if I’m not doing it with Jesus?
Prayer is work. And you and I were created to work hard. Let’s get at it!
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