I struggle so much with prayer

[Gabe7587]

I just find it so hard to pray habitually. I give God my forced prayers since I know I should pray. I also struggle of being too hard on myself. Always pointing out and being angry with my mistakes. Is there any advice?

Feel free to PM me.

 

[PKFox]

I struggle with this as well. I feel like when I'm praying, I become easily distracted and am not giving God my full attention like I feel I should. Sometimes, I remember this verse: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." Romans 8:26. This helps me when I'm not sure what to pray for, but sometimes I feel it's also just good to apologize for our sins and ask for forgiveness, even when we aren't sure what else to pray for. Just thanking God for what he's done is good too. Using the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a guide may also help.

What helps me most is, rather than long prayers that I can easily get distracted during, are the quick prayers right before a rough situation or a long day that help me get through it, and I feel closer to God for it. Also, a simple, "Thank you God" when you see one of his blessings throughout the day (I've always said this when I see the sunset).

 

[tstor]

With regard to your rule of prayer, arrange it yourself, but in such a way that meaning is not lost for the sake of completing the rule. Try to pray attentively. Is it not better to shorten it than to complete it in agitation and be a slave to the rule? (Christ is in Our Midst)
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Prayer should flow naturally. Do not try to overextend it for the sake of piety. Say what needs to be said and get out! Pray when it hits you and when you remember. I pray in the morning, generally. I also pray before I go to bed. The prayers I say throughout the day are random and of various lengths. Approach God the same way you would a loving father. Prayer should be a relief, not a source of anger and frustration.

 

[Winken]

A couple of prayers that echo through the Halls of Heaven:


Thank You, Lord, that You love me. Amen.
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Here I am again, Lord, just pausing to praise you. Amen.
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It has been a long day, Lord. Thanks for being with me. Amen.
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Where would I be without You, Lord? Thanks! Amen.
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I'm troubled by that mistake, Lord. I'm so glad that You are listening --- that You never go away. Holy Spirit, teach me as only You can, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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It's another day, Father. Before I do anything else, I'm going to praise You for Your Son, Jesus. I'm so thankful, Father, that He came into my life. Amen.

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Father, thank You for being here. I want to lift up in prayer my _________ and _________ and ___________. I want to thank You for ministering to each of them, Lord. I pray for Your Love and Mercy to be poured out on each (all) of them, in the Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

[visionary]

I just find it so hard to pray habitually. I give God my forced prayers since I know I should pray. I also struggle of being too hard on myself. Always pointing out and being angry with my mistakes. Is there any advice?

Feel free to PM me.

How about just talking to Him like he is your best friend by your side?

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I give God my forced prayers since I know I should pray.

That's a good start. Accept the fact that you are making an effort. Some don't even get that far.
As far as habit goes, I tend to slacken off sometimes. But if you can wake up and speak to Him straight away, it sets a good tone for the day.

 

[Shane R]

St. Paul wrote to the Romans and told them that we all struggle with prayer (Romans 8:26-27). But he also told them that the Spirit "helps us in our weakness" and intercedes for us. Perhaps you should look for a prayer book to give you some guidance, perhaps even a few prayers to memorize. Rote prayer is not ineffectual, as the accusation is often made, if it is intentional.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Rote prayer is not ineffectual, as the accusation is often made, if it is intentional.

agreed.

 

[StevenBelievin]

I have the same problem. Praying to someone who is invisible who you don't know whether they are hearing is hard. I know God hears me and that He loves me, but it is still hard. I have a hard time setting a set time to have a quiet time. I know that I should have one every day in order to set a devotion time for Him, but it's hard. I think in a way a lot of people have this problem. There are so many distractions in this time. TV, XBOX, kids, family, work, busy schedules, and more. not to mention cell phones. I love God and sometimes wish I lived in a previous time where all the distractions didn't exist.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I just find it so hard to pray habitually. I give God my forced prayers since I know I should pray. I also struggle of being too hard on myself. Always pointing out and being angry with my mistakes. Is there any advice?

I think the Biblical command was to pray incessantly, not habitually (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Habitually would suggest sort of a mechanical, forced system dictated by the clock and calendar, rather than continually being led and incited by the Spirit. That having been said, there are some very interesting NT references to the saints praying during what the Jews referred to as "the hours of prayer" (the 3rd, 6th and 9th hours, or what we would call today 9AM, Noon and 3PM respectively). The apostle Peter is said to have been praying at the ninth hour when he received a vision from God to eat whatever was set before him by the Gentiles (Acts 10:3, Acts 10:30). Pentecost took place after they had been praying in the upper room about the third hour (Acts 1:13-14, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:14-15). The evidence is scant, but there's enough of a case there to suggest that both regimented prayer as well as informal incessant prayer were being practiced by the New Testament church.

The conclusion? Do what works for you. If a system is what you need to discipline yourself, then set aside a certain time and force yourself to stay at it during that hour or set period of time. But the stronger evidence was for informal incessant prayer. It's easier because you're never praying for very long in one sitting, and only for what is truly on your mind until you have properly addressed it. And yet, the more Spirit-led your life becomes, the more praying simply becomes something you are doing almost non-stop without ever noticing.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Each time I needed money, all my life up through college, all I had to do was call my step-dad and ask. The money would arrive within a couple days by mail. I knew it would be on the way as soon as I asked him, even before he told me yes. Even though he was wicked, he gave good gifts unto his children. (me and his others)

God is a perfect father, and tells His children to ask for what is needed. When we ask Him for a fish, He does not give us a stone. He knows what we need. When we ask Him for TRUTH, He is delighted to grant us understanding. When there are unsaved souls living around us, He knows how to help everyone of them the best possible way. He tells us to ask Him directly. That's His Instruction to us. That's our part to do. His part is to answer, to provide everything we ask, as He says.

There's 322 quick references to prayer (170 OT, 152 NT) describing everything needed about prayer in God's Word,
why He answers prayer, and why He doesn't , who for, and who not, in His Own Words: BibleGateway - : pray

 

[insurchoftruth]

Prayer first of all, is worshiping and praising God, for who He is, and for what He does! Then it is also a thanksgiving for all that God gives us or does in our life! Then it is a petition and asking for things....

Psalm 11:7, Colossians 3:1,2, Revelation 1:6, 4:8-11, 5:10-14, 7:11,12,
19:1-10,16, 20:6, 22:8,9, Psalm 119:164, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, Psalm 113:2, 3, Psalm 27:6,
Psalm 29:1, 2, Isaiah 6:1-4, 42:8,10,12, 43:6,7,21, 66:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, 10:31, 1
Chronicles 23:5,30, Acts 12:23, Romans 1:21, 12:1, Hebrews 1:6

 

[Gabe7587]

It's just that I forget to pray, and then I get to hard on myself for not doing so. I end up getting very angry and basically downcast myself. Thank you for the responses. I don't really see God as a friend really, I mean he is my friend. But I see Him more as a father. And since my earthly dad is pretty hard on me, that's how I see my heavenly dad.

 

[dhh712]

I just find it so hard to pray habitually. I give God my forced prayers since I know I should pray. I also struggle of being too hard on myself. Always pointing out and being angry with my mistakes. Is there any advice?

Feel free to PM me.

Pray for others as well (pray for them more than praying for yourself) and also give thanks to God in your prayers. If you're ever struggling for something to say, recite the Lord's prayer as Jesus taught us to say these words when asked for instructions on how to pray.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

It's just that I forget to pray, and then I get to hard on myself for not doing so. I end up getting very angry and basically downcast myself. Thank you for the responses. I don't really see God as a friend really, I mean he is my friend. But I see Him more as a father. And since my earthly dad is pretty hard on me, that's how I see my heavenly dad.

Gabe, I'd like to recommend to you this book by John Bishop titled:
God Distorted: HOW YOUR EARTHLY FATHER AFFECTS YOUR PERCEPTION OF GOD AND WHY IT MATTERS...and it's available at Amazon.com.