The Thief of Prayer
What keeps us from praying? What steals this precious gift from us like a thief in the night? I’ve talked to people of all ages and the results are surprisingly similar. Sometimes we think our situation is unique and no one feels the same, but the crafty, evil one who wants to steal this powerful practice from us is not really creative. He uses the same tactics over and over and will do anything to stop us from talking to God.
Here are the most common ones he tries with me:
Distraction: Whenever I’m starting to pray, it’s only a few minutes before I remember the unfinished laundry or an email sitting in my draft folder. Or maybe something is grabbing my attention like a phone call or text from a friend. Those all seem like good things and not diversions, right? But if they draw my attention away from a focused time of prayer, I might not return with the same passion. One way I combat distraction is to keep my “To Do” list beside me while in prayer. Then when thoughts pop up, it’s better for me to write them on my list than actually stop and do them right then. Maybe you need to put your phone in DND. Technology can be our friend if we use all its capabilities.
No Time: This reason seems true for many people, but it’s also just a lie. The truth is that prayer can be quick and still be effective, praying while we are doing other things. Praying over family members while I’m doing the laundry is one of my favorite ways to debunk this myth. Bullet prayers while driving are also very effective and powerful. My father used to have a 30 minute commute to work every day and told me that he prayed for each family member on the way there. Whenever I find myself on that same stretch of interstate in Charlotte, NC, I feel as if it’s holy ground. These days, I have a rhythm of being home most Mondays. So I commit a portion of Mondays to praying for our family and for names on my list.
It Doesn’t Work: This one hits all of us. I have one prayer that I’ve prayed for over two decades and sometimes, slip into a pit of defeat when those whispers from the enemy say “You prayed for that? Why hasn’t God answered?” Or we’ve prayed for healing over someone and they passed to heaven. Two things help me conquer this lie.
Repeating the promises of scripture about prayer. A favorite one is “The prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective.” James 5:16 If I’m doubting whether or not God hears my prayers, I only have to review those promises and remind my soul about who He is.
Reviewing answered prayers in my journal. This is a great reason to keep a written prayer journal, with updates on when they are answered. Reading over what God has done is just the encouragement I need to keep praying!
Don’t Know How: Many times, we will keep from praying just because we think it has to follow a formula or doesn’t sound good enough. In truth, prayer is just conversation with the One who made us. Think of it like a conversation with your best friend, where you talk for a minute about what is on your heart and then you pause and listen to them. If you’ve never prayed consistently or need a refresh, stop and have a chat with Him right now. Tell God what is pressing on you, what is bothering you and what is also pleasing you. Don’t worry about the length of your prayer or the verbiage. I like to remember that He knows the number of hairs on my head, so He can also figure out what I’m trying to say when it feels jumbled.
I’m hoping this list will help you remember when you want to pray but don't, that the enemy of our souls is crafty and sneaky but he doesn’t try anything new. He uses the same tricks on someone who has been praying for decades that he uses on new believers. The important thing is to recognize his tactics and press on with your prayers. God wants to hear our voices and wants us to talk to Him. The same way we long to have our children talk to us about all the things. He’s there, so make it quick or make it long…He will be jazzed either way!