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How’s your prayer life? Here are three practical steps on how to pray in your dullest moments
One time, my little girl drove me to tears. The moment I walked into her bedroom, she opened her arms wide. She just knew her father would receive her joyfully and offer her his love.
Do you remember a time like that in your relationship with God? Do you remember when your greatest desire was to simply be with your heavenly Father?
If we are honest, we will acknowledge how crucial prayer is to the authentic Christian life. To call one’s self a minister or follower of Christ, but not pray, is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
Prayer is about connecting with God and learning to love Him. About being God-centered. About learning to look at life from His perspective. About finding out what God wants.
Despite these truths, I recall a season in my spiritual journey when I struggled to pray. My heart was so heavy it was almost unbearable. It felt as if my prayers all went unanswered, buffeted by attacks from the evil one.
My desire to pray dwindled as I wandered through this spiritual desert of isolation. At my low point, I asked, “Does God really listen to my prayers? Does He really hear me when I cry out to Him?”
Practical prayer steps
How is your prayer life? Here are three practical steps on how to pray when you don’t feel like praying.
1. Take a step of obedience
Prayer is practicing the presence of God. God wants us to pray and wants to hear our prayers. Not because we are worthy, but because He is a merciful, loving Father.
Is it not amazing that we talk about the presence of God? How beautiful is the fragrance of God’s presence (Psalm 16:11)? It is wondrous and beyond description.
Not only is the presence of God a joy, 2 Corinthians 2:15 calls us a “pleasing aroma” to Him. He longs to hear your voice too. Don’t allow the devil to make you think He doesn’t. The reason to practice being in His presence is not because you are involved in missions or ministry, or when you have it all together. It’s a daily walk—and talk.
2. Abide in God’s love
If you are under attack or at a low point in ministry, you may be thinking, “I don’t know if I am worthy to be received.”
Settle the issue: You aren’t. You never will be. But that is not the point. First Corinthians 15:54 says your unworthiness is swallowed up by His love—the love that covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10:12).
Prayer is not about mastering the mechanics of how to come to God, waxing poetic, or bringing a shopping list to God. It is a language of seeking.
No man realizing God’s love will begrudge time for prayer. Or, allow business, family, or pleasure to take precedence over His sacred trust and love.
3. Pray scripture
When you pray, you have God on your side. What more do you need?
Don’t lose heart (Luke 18:1). Be not dismayed (Isaiah 41:10). Grow determined; as 1 John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Remember, the One who is on our side said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Using His Word to communicate with Him is one of the most powerful ways you can pray.
Prayer is communion with God. When you bow your knee to pray and you look toward God, amazing things happen. Why wouldn’t you want to pray? We pray because we were made for prayer.
“Prayer does not equip us for greater works,” legendary Scottish evangelist Oswald Chambers once said. “Prayer is the greater work.”
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 | Dr. Jonathan Hayashi earned his B.A. from Moody Bible Institute with a double concentration in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies; a M.A., in Congregational Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and Doctorate of Educational Ministry in Biblical Counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He presently serves on the Executive Committee at Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, MO) and serves on the Board of Trustees at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as Senior Pastor at Northern Hills Baptist Church Holt, Missouri from 2020-2022. Learn More » |
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