Overcoming Coldness in Prayer

[JM]

“A brother recently asked me what was the best way to overcome coldness of heart and a ‘bound’ spirit when he sought to pray. I told him to begin praising the Lord as soon as he dropped upon his knees, and if he could think of nothing else, to commence by thanking him that he was not already in Hell. I read recently of a handsome young man who returned from the war minus his right arm. His friends and relatives gathered together to commiserate him and were bewailing his loss. He turned to them and said, ‘Help me to praise God that I still have my left arm!'” - A.W. Pink, Letters of Arthur W. Pink

 

[brinny]

Amen. Profoundly edifying. Thank you.

 

[Euodius]

This is very good advice. Prayers of supplication are the least of the types of prayer. Praise and thanksgiving are greater. It is often forgotten that the greater should be given priority as they relate to eternal realities rather than (usually) temporary needs. Supplications also tend to turn inward (what can God do for me?) rather than being a lifting up to God (an act of worship.) Pink's advice is very good for keeping prayer worshipful.

I advise to pray to have a heart of prayer and to pray that God will teach you how to pray. That is a great supplication.

The better-greater supplications, again, should be of eternal needs, like the remission of sin and the healing of the soul.



Remember - the devil is cold. A believer must keep his heart warm toward God and kindle the flame of the Holy Spirit within himself.

 

[packermann]

Coldness in prayer is not necessarily a bad thing. It could be a sign of spiritual growth.

No one has had coldness in prayer more than our Lord when He was on the Cross. He cried out "My God, My God! What have You forsaken Me?" He felt that He was abandoned by the Father!

Feeling that God has abandoned you is the severest form of trial that God can place on us. What is important that we persevere no matter what. We should not seek God because He gives us a great feeling of joy and peace. We should seek and love Him because He is! Sometimes He tests us to make sure that we love the Giver of His gifts and not just His gifts. In due season, we will have the joy and peace again - and our reward will be great in heaven!

 

[Euodius]

Coldness in prayer is not necessarily a bad thing. It could be a sign of spiritual growth.

No one has had coldness in prayer more than our Lord when He was on the Cross. He cried out "My God, My God! What have You forsaken Me?" He felt that He was abandoned by the Father!

Feeling that God has abandoned you is the severest form of trial that God can place on us. What is important that we persevere no matter what. We should not seek God because He gives us a great feeling of joy and peace. We should seek and love Him because He is! Sometimes He tests us to make sure that we love the Giver of His gifts and not just His gifts. In due season, we will have the joy and peace again - and our reward will be great in heaven!

It is true that there may be distance in prayer as a result of either sins needing repentance or because of a trial laid on a believer. It is true that we should never pray for the sake of a spiritual experience. But there are two kinds of warmness, the spiritual warmness from the acquiring of the holy spirit and the warmness of emotionalism. The latter is not associated with spiritual growth at all.

 

[friend of]

Try reading the Psalms

 

[JM]

Try reading the Psalms

Try praying the Psalms.