I'd said that I believe pride is the number one reason I don't seek God in prayer.
But another reason is. . .
Unbelief.
It sounds like this:
This is too small a request, too insignificant.
This is too big a request.
I'm not sure I have the right to ask God for this.
God is busy; He really doesn't want to spend time with me.
God really doesn't love me.
God doesn't answer prayer.
The Scriptures are not truthful about God answering prayer.
I'm sure you can come up with some other "unbeliefs."
So what's the antidote to unbelief?
Here are some suggestions to open your spiritual eyes to God's mysterious and wondrous activity all around you:
First, READ the Word daily and feast on God's assurances of His never-ending love and concern for His children.
PRAY. . . and see what God does. You'll see how He answer your prayers for yourself and for others. You'll draw nearer to Him and gain a stronger sense of His presence.
SPEND TIME with other believers. Listen to their testimonies of how God answered their prayer.
WORSHIP God. Draw near to him in praise and adoration and He will draw near to you.
Read BIOGRAPHIES of missionaries, preachers, and others who faced tremendous adversity and how God sustained them.
Keep a prayer JOURNAL to help you keep track of how God has answered your prayers. Write your prayers. Include your doubts, fears, concerns, grievances; also write down your thoughts about God and about your meditations from scripture.
Just writing these words has already encouraged me to press on in prayer. I hope this blog on prayer blesses you as well.
Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this is mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.")
God n me: A bi-weekly blog that encourages readers to see the glory of Jesus Christ in small, daily things, and to seek greater intimacy with Him.
Contact Me
If you enjoy my blog and would like to contact me, you may reach me at this email: dena.netherton@gmail.com
Some of my stories are published in:
A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (Adams Media, 2009)
Chicken Soup: What I Learned from the Dog (2009)
Love is a Flame (Bethany House, 2010)
Extraordinary answers to Prayer (Guideposts, 2010)
Love is a Verb (Bethany House, 2011)
Big Dreams from Small Spaces (Group Publishing, 2012)
Some of my stories are published in:
A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (Adams Media, 2009)
Chicken Soup: What I Learned from the Dog (2009)
Love is a Flame (Bethany House, 2010)
Extraordinary answers to Prayer (Guideposts, 2010)
Love is a Verb (Bethany House, 2011)
Big Dreams from Small Spaces (Group Publishing, 2012)
It's so easy to use the excuse that we are not worthy. No we're not, but we are supposed to pray anyway.
ReplyDeleteGood post.
Prayer is such a pillar in a Christian's life so why don't we do more of it. You gave a great list of why we don't.
ReplyDeleteDiane