What can I do to fix this?

[MyEverything]

I don't know what to do, but I'm so frustrated. For a few weeks now, my prayer life has been so terrible. I've been content to pray throughout the day as things come to mind and I'm always eager to read and study my Bible, but the thought of setting aside time to pray (for specific things, not just talking to Him about everyday things) just makes me cringe. I feel so bored with the whole thing.

I know everyone goes through some dry times, but I can't help but feel so guilty about it; like I'm disappointing God or sending Him the message that I don't want to be with Him or that I don't have time for Him. Please help me. What can I do to get back in the swing of things?

 

[Peripatetic]

Perhaps you are putting too much pressure on yourself. It is possible to "burn out" if you set your expectations too high... expectations of yourself, of God, or of your relationship with Him. Sometimes the ones with the most zeal just can't sustain it and, sadly, fall away.

First of all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with just talking to God in a conversational tone. You don't have to formally pray for specific things each day using some kind of system. Try mixing it up a little bit... change your focus around from praise to thanks to confessing to asking, and don't be afraid to be informal. My guess is that the devil wants it to be a chore for us, and to condemn us if we aren't perfect with it.

 

[liesje]

Something we all struggle with is making prayer as much about God as it is about us. How about spending some time meditating on the qualities and the power of God - that might put you in a better frame of mind to spend time with him. It's never easy to start with. Remember that emotions run in cycles. They go up and down. You will have mountaintop experiences, and times when you just can't be bothered. Keep strong and steady during both of those times. The brain is a muscle...exercise it!

 

[Morphane]

MyEverything, please don't worry about this issue any longer!

The God who is Love cannot be disappointed in you. If you gave Him the cold shoulder for the rest of your life, He would still be hopelessly devoted to you. God is in-love with you to such a degree, that human romance is the vaguest shadow of this all consuming fire. Through faith relax and understand that nothing can ever damage God's infatuation for you.

This sense that you can only be with God when you are praying, or at least thinking of Him is mistaken. God is with you when you aren't thinking about Him, and you are with God when you aren't thinking about Him.

I don't want to presume too much about God, but I'm sure all He wants is for us to be spiritually healthy - not a slave to sin, and happy. If we desire to love Him back, that's just a bonus. Anyhow, any time we love - anything at all, we are loving the work of His hands, and therefore loving Him in a proxy sense.

My advice is if your devotional routine is dry, verging on torture - give it a break. Maybe the pleasure of loving God is like a beautiful sunny day. Then a rainy day comes, but that's okay. The rainy days help us to appreciate the sunny days.

Maybe the pleasure of loving God is like having a good cry, and releasing all the pain and frustration that has been pent up in one's soul. But one can't cry any time they want - it is a spontaneous thing.

Maybe the pleasure of loving God is like laughing - I mean hysterical laughter where your lips hurt for smiling so much - but such times don't happen all that often. Because they are rare, that is why they are special.

So don't worry! You cannot force the pleasure involved with loving God. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, God still loves you.

 

[MyEverything]

Thanks, you guys. I understand what you're saying and I was sort of thinking the same thing (about switching it up and giving myself a break), but I suppose I felt guilty about that; like I was supposed to pray for hours and hours about everything that I could possibly think of.

In a way, I felt like if I didn't pray for every single thing that came to mind (everything from church matters to abortion, war, Haiti, friends, family, etc.) that God would be angry with me because I wasn't "doing my part." Now, I see that I was just trying to carry to much at once. Thanks for all your help, you guys! God bless you!

 

[lutherangerman]

You could try modelling your prayers after the Lord's prayer. Know that when asking for our daily bread, all of our needs and requests are covered. So we needn't dwell on them and can just ask God to be God to us.

I also don't think it's a sin to skip praying for some time until you feel better about it again. What I like to do is using my german prayerbook, or the psalms in the bible. I pray one of the prayers or psalms and leave it at that. Often. I try to keep in mind other people's prayer requests though.

I'm always brief with my prayers. Maybe you're fed up with hearing yourself talk on and on.

 

[toolite]

I don't know what to do, but I'm so frustrated. For a few weeks now, my prayer life has been so terrible. I've been content to pray throughout the day as things come to mind and I'm always eager to read and study my Bible, but the thought of setting aside time to pray (for specific things, not just talking to Him about everyday things) just makes me cringe. I feel so bored with the whole thing.

I know everyone goes through some dry times, but I can't help but feel so guilty about it; like I'm disappointing God or sending Him the message that I don't want to be with Him or that I don't have time for Him. Please help me. What can I do to get back in the swing of things?

Sounds like its time to change levels... when you can do what you normally do and get the same result then you are changing levels.. or being tested.. just push forward seeking the Lord and you will see a renewal...

All The Glory BElongs To God Forever!

 

[MyEverything]

You could try modelling your prayers after the Lord's prayer. Know that when asking for our daily bread, all of our needs and requests are covered. So we needn't dwell on them and can just ask God to be God to us.

I also don't think it's a sin to skip praying for some time until you feel better about it again. What I like to do is using my german prayerbook, or the psalms in the bible. I pray one of the prayers or psalms and leave it at that. Often. I try to keep in mind other people's prayer requests though.

I'm always brief with my prayers. Maybe you're fed up with hearing yourself talk on and on.

Yes, praying the psalms is a good idea. I've been doing that every once in awhile when I don't feel like praying much. Thanks for the suggestion.