Whenever I cannot find the motivation to pray, I get a little worried. Why? Because prayer is one of the main ways I connect with God. However, there are times when you may find it challenging to engage in worship due to distractions, or feelings of doubt.
Sometimes, I don’t even know why I don’t want to pray. And if I try to force it, it feels like a chore. Have ever dealt with prayerlessness?
If you want to grow spiritually; you need to dedicate time to speak to God. Prayer isn’t about how intellectual you are but a way you connect with God that at times are unexplainable.
Today, I want to discuss all the possible reasons you may not want to pray and how to fix it. We often think it’s because we are too lazy to pray and not fully understand that we’re in a spiritual battle.
What is stopping you from praying?
Let’s take a minute to look at the root cause of why we don’t feel like praying. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed in the moment. But if you find that this feeling is lingering way longer than it should then you need to take a closer look at the problem.
In Matthew 26:41, Jesus tells his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
There is always a fight between your spirit and flesh. When we fall into temptation or sin, it makes it 10x harder to pray.
Not because God disappeared but because sin moved us further away from connecting with God. Why? Sin creates guilt, shame, and feelings of rejection.
Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve? They walked and talked with God daily enjoying His presence. But one day they disobeyed God and hid from Him in the Garden of Eden by covering themselves with fig leaves to conceal their nakedness.
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3 8-10
The All-knowing God knew Adam and Eve sin but He still came looking for them. But the guilt and shame of sin cause them to run away from ever communing with God.
Have you believed the lie that God won’t listen to you because you mess up? Listen, Father God is always faithful even when we are not. So let’s persevere and fight the good fight of faith!
Does it mean I don’t love God if I feel too lazy to pray?
The message of Christ is one of redemption and grace rather than condemnation. In Romans 8:1 it states that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. So with that being said, let’s move on to the real question.
We tend to judge how righteous we are based on outward actions such as praying or giving. This at times can be referred to as ‘works‘.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
So though works are important, it’s not the basis to receive salvation. If God’s not judging us primarily by our actions then what is He looking for?
Please don’t get me wrong, doing the right thing is essential but there is something more God looks for. And that’s the state of your heart. Take a close look at the scripture below:
In Matthew 15:8, Jesus quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah, saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Similarly, in 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord reveals to Samuel that humans look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.
So what am I saying? Feeling distant from prayer does not necessarily equate to a lack of love or faith in God, as true devotion involves your heart’s intent and is beyond mere routines.
The fact that you’re reading this article shows your heart’s desire though your actions may differ. But hey, it’s a start!
Things You Must Do When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
Start With A Prayer Schedule
It’s not about how long you pray but how consistent you are. I remember listening to a sermon and the preacher said if you don’t pray a certain amount of time then you’re not serious about God.
I wanted to defend my faith in God so I said am going to pray for ‘x’ hours daily. By the third day, I fall off the bandwagon, lol.
However, what worked for me was spending 30 minutes praying in the morning and the evening. If you’re super busy then try doing 10 minutes of prayer 6x daily. Setting a daily reminder on your phone is perfect for this.
A prayer schedule helps you be consistent in forming a habit of communing with God daily. You set a time and how long you want to spend talking to God without distractions.
It’s the same as going to work. Whether you want to go or not you still have to wake up and go. Remember that the quality of prayers matters more than the duration.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35
Ignore Your Feelings
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26
Relying on how you feel to decide if you should pray is a terrible idea. Why? Because your emotions are influenced by other external factors.
So obviously, it’s the last thing you want to tell you anything. Emotions have the power to cloud your judgment at times. Instead, you need to depend on the word of God for wisdom and guidance.
Try monitoring your mood daily and you’ll see how it can fluctuate based on circumstances or even how you feel physically.
That is how your prayer life will be. All over the place, with no discipline, and misguided prayer!
Breathe, Relax and Whisper ‘Jesus’
This is something I do when am overwhelmed and don’t want to pray. The Lord encourages us to cast all our worries and anxieties onto Him, knowing that He cares for us deeply (1 Peter 5:7).
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10
This is a great way to start praying especially when you have no words. Your prayer doesn’t have to be long. Calling the name of Jesus is a prayer in itself. It’s like saying, ‘Lord help me!’.
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15
The name Jesus can bring forgiveness, protection, and salvation when in time of need. One name carries this much power!
Sometimes, I would say the name of God repeatedly, and after a while, I would be on my knees praising God.
Start talking to God as a Friend
Don’t think about what you’re going to say or any prayer request. Just start talking to God. Tell him about your day.
Invite Jesus in every decision, even choosing which outfit to wear or what to eat. You’ll realize that talking to God doesn’t have to be complicated. In addition, you’ll never run out of things to talk to God about.
You’ll start to make better decisions and become sensitive to His voice.
“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15
God wants you to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him. And how do you do that?
By sharing your deepest thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment. This approach to prayer when you don’t feel like it encourages you to be authentic and vulnerable. With the confidence knowing that God is listening.
Have an interactive Bible Study
An interactive bible study isn’t one where you simply sit and read chapter after chapter. Instead, you’re asking God questions, building faith, and reflecting on the scripture.
Doing this prompts you to pray and offer thanksgiving to the Most High. This not only enhances your prayer life but teaches you how to pray using the scripture.
Personally, whenever I dive into the Word, I am reminded of God’s promises, teachings, and love. This encourages me to communicate with The Father through prayer.
The more you study the Bible, the more you’ll understand the will of God for your life. Studying the Bible when you feel too lazy to pray can deepen your relationship with God encouraging you to pray consistently and fervently.
Get a Devotional
Devotional can be used when you’re having your morning devotion or saying your evening prayers. With a devotional, it can help you focus your thoughts during prayer.
Because of how structured it is, you’ll find prompts, scripture reading, reflections, and even a prayer at the end.
I think this is one of the simplest ways to help you start praying when you don’t feel like it. Since everything has already been laid out for you.
A devotional can motivate you to engage in prayer while learning and building your faith.
Get yourself a journal to write down what the Holy Spirit is saying to you in that moment as this will help with your spiritual growth.
Reflect on Past Testimonies
Let’s do a little activity. Start reflecting on some moments when God had answered your prayer. Or that challenge you overcome but only by God’s grace.
You’ll start to thank God right where you are just by reflecting on past testimonies.
So if your problem is laziness to pray, then this will become a powerful motivator to start praying. It’s possible to draw strength from these moments to rekindle that fire burning within you.
Sometimes all you need is a reminder and that’s enough for your faith to grow. You can practice reflecting on your testimonies anywhere and anytime.
Final Statements on How to Pray When You Don’t Feel Like It
Struggling to pray is a common experience so don’t feel discouraged. Identifying the factors hindering your prayer routine, such as distractions, lack of motivation, or sin, is the first step towards overcoming this obstacle.
After you figure out the reason, it’s time to form habits that will encourage you to pray. This can include changes, like creating a dedicated space for prayer or setting a consistent time each day.
Remember, prayer is personal and should not feel like a chore. See it as a blessing to have a relationship with the Father and that you can talk to Him about everything.