An effective prayer life is the key to a fulfilling and satisfying life. Why then do many of us not have a prayer life at all…let alone an effective one? Pastors often remark that the prayer services are the least attended. I don’t have the statistics to prove that, but it does not surprise me. In this article, I am going to cover the biblical foundation for prayer, obstacles to an effective prayer life, and behaviors that hinder prayer.
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Understanding the Basics of Prayer
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 actually tells us what the will of God is for our lives. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Did you catch the second thing on the list? We are supposed to pray without stopping. Simply put, prayer is communication with God. The Creator wants to communicate with us all the time! Wow, that’s deep. The question is, why?
It is true. God wants to communicate with us regularly, but it’s not for His benefit. It’s for ours! Consistent prayer brings balance, perspective and oneness with God. If you feel confused and lacking direction, check your prayer life. If you feel alone and isolated, check your prayer life. I can look back over my life to the times I felt lost and lonely, and 99.9% of the time, it was because my prayer life had grown weak. I bet the same is true for you.
Overcoming the Obstacles to Prayer
The ideal way to start each day is with prayer. I really like to use this prayer journal for quiet time and reflection with God. However, there are seasons in life (such as motherhood) when what is ideal just isn’t always possible. Sometimes, the busyness of life, including working a job, wears us down, and we don’t even have the energy to pray. Other times, we get distracted by social media or lose focus when we try to pray. How many times have you sat down to pray only to spend hours on Instagram or YouTube? Or, as soon as you start to pray, your mind starts to wonder to other things you have to do.
If you are anything like me, you have been there. However, we must realize that an effective prayer life is, first, intentional. It is no less deliberate than showing up to work on time or catching a flight to your vacation destination. We must purpose in our heart to communicate with God. If we miss any of the mentioned appointments, there will be consequences. The consequences to missing prayer time are loneliness, confusion, and lack of direction among other things.
To overcome the obstacles to prayer, try making prayer a daily habit. Talk to God while you cook, drive, work, garden, etc. This will help you establish habitual prayer.
Avoiding Behaviors that Hinder an Effective Prayer Life
The last tip in this guide to an effective prayer life is to avoid certain unproductive behaviors. The first of these behaviors is unrepentant sin. Unrepentant sin is continuing to do or live in a way that you know is wrong. Psalm 66:18 and Proverbs 28:9 both tell us that this behavior causes God not to hear our prayers. Secondly, selfishness will hinder your prayers. James 4:3 very clearly states that sometimes we do not get what we ask God for because we only ask for our own selfish pleasures. It’s not always about us.
Another behavior that hinders prayer is unforgiveness. According to Mark 11:26, do not expect to pray for forgiveness and receive it if you have not forgiven others! Finally, doubt can also hinder your prayers. This behavior is not immediately as obvious as the other ones. However, James 1:5-7 says that a person who is full of doubt should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Beloved, make sure that you avoid these four behaviors in order to have a more effective prayer life.
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I pray blessings over you sis!
