Why cant I pray sometimes?

[Unperfect]

Ive had some great experiences with prayer in my lifetime. Ive had prayers come out of me without any effort or thought. Ive had prayers that were very clearly answered. Ive pretty much always known about the power of prayer, but I havent always made Jesus the focus of my life. Now that im trying to change that and become stronger in faith and live a more upright life Im finding it hard to pray as much as I think I ought to. Sure its easy to pray when you have something pressing in your life that you need the Lord's help with, but everyday prayers are hard for me to do sometimes. Sometimes the words just wont come out, but whats even worse is that sometimes when I go to pray I hold back because I feel ashamed or embaressed to the point that I just dont pray. I want a more personal relationship with Jesus and there are a lot of things in my life that I need to make right, not to mention all the people around me that need the help of a strong christian in their lives. I feel like prayer is one of the strongest tools I have to make these things happen but only if I learn to use it properly. So if anyone knows of a way for me to get around this stumbling block, kindly offer your advise. Thanks and God Bless

 

[Emmaleuk]

Ive had some great experiences with prayer in my lifetime. Ive had prayers come out of me without any effort or thought. Ive had prayers that were very clearly answered. Ive pretty much always known about the power of prayer, but I havent always made Jesus the focus of my life. Now that im trying to change that and become stronger in faith and live a more upright life Im finding it hard to pray as much as I think I ought to. Sure its easy to pray when you have something pressing in your life that you need the Lord's help with, but everyday prayers are hard for me to do sometimes. Sometimes the words just wont come out, but whats even worse is that sometimes when I go to pray I hold back because I feel ashamed or embaressed to the point that I just dont pray. I want a more personal relationship with Jesus and there are a lot of things in my life that I need to make right, not to mention all the people around me that need the help of a strong christian in their lives. I feel like prayer is one of the strongest tools I have to make these things happen but only if I learn to use it properly. So if anyone knows of a way for me to get around this stumbling block, kindly offer your advise. Thanks and God Bless

I used to be really embarassed to pray, particularly out loud, and particularly around members of my family because I always felt like everyone elses prayers meant so much more because they were really long...and contained fancy words. Now I really don't care. Why should I be embarassed? Why should I be ashamed? I love Jesus with all of my heart and I want to get closer and closer to him. If there's something on my mind, I will pray. Sometimes in my head, sometimes out loud..! I don't think it matters to God which I do, he knows my thoughts, he knows my struggles. God knows when we are embarassed or ashamed...but we don't need to be. If you can't find the words to say when you are praying, don't worry, the Lord knows your thoughts.
God bless you x

 

[1corinthian13]

Keep praying Ask others to pray for you. Read the Bible. Ask God what's going wrong and ask him to tell you what you are doing wrong. let the holy spirit convict you. you're feeling guilty and embarrassed perhaps it's from the holy spirit. know in assurance and faith through Jesus Christ , that you have confidence of freedom. what am i saying??

Pray for others, pray for other people (you're special one) that dont believe in Jesus. I think sometimes you feel the goodness and the compassion of Jesus Christ for those people that you "tasted" the goodness of Him.

Ask God, to give you hunger for him. seek him.

 

[Catholic Wife]

For me, praying is, in some ways, like any other discipline -- especially working out. I know I should do it, and I know it will make me feel better and bring me closer to God, but it's hard to get started. But, just like working out, some days are harder than others and sometimes I have to "schedule" it by putting it on my calendar or "to do" list.

 

[jamespeters]

I have found that over the years that the way I pray has changed considerably. I used to try and make some time every day to pray.

At some point, though, I realised that I was praying all the time. I laughed at things with God, I let Him show His heart for the things happening around me. I asked Him to show me how to live, and He does.

I have reaslised that a lot of people come to the point where prayer stops working for a time .... and sometimes it's because God wants to move you onto a new way of praying.

Try just chatting to God about what's going on whilst it's happening. And remember to listen at least as much as you talk.

I wouldn't get hung up on it, though. We all struggle from time to time ... it's perfectly normal.

James.

 

[Unperfect]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like this is a bump in the road that quite a few have hit. Thanks jamespeter for reminding me to listen. Sometimes I forget that it's just as important to listen to God as it is to talk to Him.

 

[AvgJoe]

Ive had some great experiences with prayer in my lifetime. Ive had prayers come out of me without any effort or thought. Ive had prayers that were very clearly answered. Ive pretty much always known about the power of prayer, but I havent always made Jesus the focus of my life. Now that im trying to change that and become stronger in faith and live a more upright life Im finding it hard to pray as much as I think I ought to. Sure its easy to pray when you have something pressing in your life that you need the Lord's help with, but everyday prayers are hard for me to do sometimes. Sometimes the words just wont come out, but whats even worse is that sometimes when I go to pray I hold back because I feel ashamed or embaressed to the point that I just dont pray. I want a more personal relationship with Jesus and there are a lot of things in my life that I need to make right, not to mention all the people around me that need the help of a strong christian in their lives. I feel like prayer is one of the strongest tools I have to make these things happen but only if I learn to use it properly. So if anyone knows of a way for me to get around this stumbling block, kindly offer your advise. Thanks and God Bless

The following ebooks may be helpful to you:

Jesus' Blueprint for Prayer
Praying With Confidence: Overcoming Disappointment In Prayer
Transformed Lives

God bless!

 

[JTLauder]

Prayer (personal prayer) is not a soliloquy or a finely prepared oration to God as the audience. It's time spent with God. It's not the same thing as chatting with your friends, but as jamespeter pointed out, try to be a little more relaxed and just "chat" with God.

If you are embarrashed or feel ashamed, tell him that. Whatever is on your mind and heart goes out to God. It's not like you can hide it from him anyway, so why try. Maybe something is pressing on you deeply that needs to go out to God.

And it's not a one-way conversation either. If no words come to you, spend some time in prayer listening to God and see what he has to "tell" you. When we are too busy trying to think of something to say, we are not listening to what God (or others in normal conversation) has to say.

 

[reason90]

but sometimes as I quiten myself down after praying, waiting to listen what God has to say to me. But all I got is just nothing. I hear no voice, no whisper or signs that God is speaking to me. Often I give up after a while of pateintly trying to listen to Him, because in the end I hear nothing.

On the other hand, God has indeed spoken to me in other ways like circumstances, songs, pastors and people. But till now, I have yet to witness and experience first handedly HIS VOICE.

 

[Dondi]

You ever find yourself talking with yourself? Well, When i pray, it is sort of like I'm talking to my conscience, but really I feel that I'm talking to God. I'm trusting that He is living inside me and hears even in my thoughts. I've been amazed that I have gotten answers or direction from that still small voice in my head. Of course I make sure that it lines up with what I read in God's Word for confirmation. But I've also found many of those answers come in the form of Scripture itself, sometimes with applcations of certain verses I never considered before. Which is a great reason to read and study the bible and hide the Word in our hearts so that God's Spirit can work within us.

 

[reason90]

but i've never gotten to hear/experience that STILL SMALL VOICE. I really dunno how it actually sounds like

 

[child101]

I have had someone tell me it is like listening to a radio and there are a few chanels out there you could be getting. So I considered this thought while I learned to listen to His voice. The channels may be God, yourself or the enemy. As you read Gods word you can start to know who you are hearing. For now you are not tuned into anything. If you want Him to share His heart with you it is like a friendship you need to be willing to share too. You seem to be holding back so I think you might need to get brave and share everything you can think of. Remember you cannot shock or suprise God who already knows everything about you. He knows you better then you know yourself. Clear the air and tell Him everything. Get into the word and know who you are talking to, know His charactor and you will know who's voice you are hearing when He does speak. Seek to make Him your best friend and you will start wanting to tell Him everything just like you would with a very close and dear friend. Soon you will see the relationship develope into something wonderful. Better then any friendship you have ever believed you could have! But, don't sour the relationship by holding back things, not telling the truth, and all the stuff that you already know will mess up a friendship. He will apreciate and bless your honesty! He will be speaking to you and you will know it.

 

[anonymousAdviser]

Ive had some great experiences with prayer in my lifetime. Ive had prayers come out of me without any effort or thought. Ive had prayers that were very clearly answered. Ive pretty much always known about the power of prayer, but I havent always made Jesus the focus of my life. Now that im trying to change that and become stronger in faith and live a more upright life Im finding it hard to pray as much as I think I ought to. Sure its easy to pray when you have something pressing in your life that you need the Lord's help with, but everyday prayers are hard for me to do sometimes. Sometimes the words just wont come out, but whats even worse is that sometimes when I go to pray I hold back because I feel ashamed or embaressed to the point that I just dont pray. I want a more personal relationship with Jesus and there are a lot of things in my life that I need to make right, not to mention all the people around me that need the help of a strong christian in their lives. I feel like prayer is one of the strongest tools I have to make these things happen but only if I learn to use it properly. So if anyone knows of a way for me to get around this stumbling block, kindly offer your advise. Thanks and God Bless

The Bible says we should be constantly praying, and so we should be.

You do not force prayer like the pagans do, what good is this when God hears our every thought as if it were a shout?

What is prayer... when you keep your heart right with God and fear Him and resist sin within your heart... when you acknowledge He hears your every thought. That is prayer.

Are there times to go off by yourself and pray to God in this manner? Of course there is. Is this not what Jesus was compelled to do at times?

I find such prayerful times as those to be times of pure compulsion. It is not something you should seek to ritualize... or force... or, to be more blunt, fake.

 

[kamloon]

pray for u

 

[JPPT1974]

Lord be with our friend
Who wants to pray and
Help them to block out things
That could hinder their prayer
Strengthen and protect them
In thy name and will amen

 

[child101]

The Bible says we should be constantly praying, and so we should be.

You do not force prayer like the pagans do, what good is this when God hears our every thought as if it were a shout?

What is prayer... when you keep your heart right with God and fear Him and resist sin within your heart... when you acknowledge He hears your every thought. That is prayer.

Are there times to go off by yourself and pray to God in this manner? Of course there is. Is this not what Jesus was compelled to do at times?

I find such prayerful times as those to be times of pure compulsion. It is not something you should seek to ritualize... or force... or, to be more blunt, fake.

Inturesting thoughts....

I think of prayer as sharing with Jesus my thoughts. He is a very intamat friend of mine. I don't think there is anything forced or fake about sharing with a dear friend. I would never think of inviting a friend over to bake cookies and not talk to her because she already knows what I am doing and thinking. I share because I want to hear her thoughts and input too. I desire to hear His thoughts and input in all the things I do. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Reyanah]

When that happens talk to Him like you do your best friend...and sometimes prayer is or should always be actually a 2 way street...sometimes we need to just sit still and listen to Him....The Psalms always help me when it's so quiet and I don't know what to pray...and othertimes the Holy Spirit prays because we don't know what to pray for as we ought.