Why I Struggle to Pray...and How I Overcame It!

For YEARS I have struggled with prayer. Yes, me. I'm a seminary graduate, Christian YouTuber, Bible teacher, national Christian author and speaker, and yet I struggle at times with this important spiritual discipline. But I have to keep it real with you about this struggle, because you may have it as well! But I've figured out some things that have allowed me to overcome my own prayer struggle that I want to share with you with the hope that they will be helpful to you as well!

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TO INVITE ME TO SPEAK:
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[Gamer]

You know how RARE it is to have people be honest with their struggles? Especially pastors? A nice breathe of fresh air indeed.

[pofgom]

I struggle, too, for a few of the same reasons. I try to use PRAY, p=praise, r=repent, a=ASK, y=yield. It has helped me!

[djidjine]

I don’t struggle with prayer. I struggle with praying in my head or just staying in his presence in silence. When I try to just be still and pray in my head, all kind of weird thoughts come to mind and I start thinking about a bunch of things but praying. But out loud I have no problem praying out loud.

[txthumper]

I have a prayer acronym too. It's similar to yours, WRAPP.
It's Worship
Repent,
Ask, this is where I pray for others, and myself,
Pour, i pour my heart out to my Father Psalm 62:8,
Praise
And that's a wrapp 😄

[debbieappoleon]

A tip I learned from a pastor from Congo is that during prayer, we should put our phones on AIRPLANE mode, as this is the time we "take off" to go reach God and reduce the space between Heaven and Earth. Best tip ever for me! 🙏🏽

[acurisur]

I think the biggest problem is that prayer can seem like just a time to request stuff from God, almost like God is a genie. But that really isn't what prayer is supposed to be, all that prayer is is you having a conversation with God, just like you would with a friend. A lot of my prayers are me giving thanks to God for creating me and for continuing to put the breath of life into my body, and thanking God for sending his son to save the world.

[Price]

I love your honesty. We need more Christians like this!

[KoolT]

I believe we all struggle at time's. Life is difficult not easy. ❤

[traceyray]

1. Prayer requires patience
2. Question whether God will answer
3. Distractions
4. Unworthy
5. Misunderstood the purpose of prayer
Work on:
1. Redefine prayer - be transparent
2. Set aside time
3. Pray with another person
4. Stop saying you’ll pray for someone unless you do it
5. Use the ACTS method - adoration, confess, thanksgiving supplication pray for others
6. Do not use phone
7. Do not use a fixed location, pray on a walk
8. Keep a prayer journal
9. Read a prayer
10. I missed one sorry - pray for me ☺️

[ktmkarl]

Prayer sometimes is not about what God can give you, it's about what you can give God.

[randy]

"No man/woman is greater than their prayer life" - Leonard Ravenhill

[KBlovestrueGOD]

I don't struggle with waiting for my prayers to be answered. I struggle with actually "praying". Keeping my mind focused. Being able to articulate what it is I'm praying for. Am I praying right? Etc

[donnagelina]

This was very timely for me! What happens to me is I like to pray before I go to sleep and I start, and find myself drifting off to some other memory or thought and keep wandering. I found some prayers that have deep meaning for me and I put them in a document on my laptop and I read them. But when I do that, I feel that I'm cheating because they're someone else's words.

[OolongG]

This is so true!!!! Most people stop praying because they think God isn’t answering their prayers. One of the enemy most clever tricks he plays on us.

[cristinabivins]

For years I struggled in my prayer life because I grew up being taught that “it had to be an hour–because of the passage w/Jesus and the disciples–AND it had to be early in the morning and on my knees 🫤. I thank God he freed me from that! Over the last 3-4 years I have had a consistent (and constant) prayer life. The ACTS “method” has been a blessing!

[lovepeacehappiness]

Same…. 😩 you definitely not alone on this subject . Thank you so much for your courage . It is…really helpful. I pray the Great Lord give us all… patience, strength, wisdom and a peace of mind to move forward in our prayer life with him . Amen 🙏❤️✝️

[brandyboyd]

My therapist at one point told me about “God texts.” Saying a quick little prayer constantly throughout the day. “Thank you, God that the light was green.” And move on. 5 minutes later “Thank you, God for this good parking spot.” On and on!
God desires our constant conversation. While longer prayers are lovely, our prayers don’t have to be for them to be meaningful. 😉🥰

[LILJROD]

I think for me the struggle is never hearing God. I have never once genuinely felt like I was hearing God speak to me or tell me something or giving me direction. Even when I read the Bible. Yeah I hear all those cliches “you want God to speak to you read your Bible. Want to hear Him? Read it out loud” blah blah… maybe I’m just having a cynical day…. But man I just don’t …. I struggle to read my Bible with any efficiency and I just find myself repeating the same prayers over and over and over again…. Feeling pretty stale ATM and I’m not really frustrated with myself…

[LetsTalkAbout.TheBible]

Thank you for your honesty and transparency, brother. That first tip, changing the way we view and think about prayer, is the catalyst for change in the life of any believer. I know it was for me. Prayer ought not be looked at as an obligation, but an honor and a privilege. If we got the opportunity to spend just 10-15 minutes every day talking to our favorite athlete, actor, musician, author, etc., we would JUMP at the opportunity. Shouldn’t our desire to spend 10-15 minutes talking with the Creator of the universe be infinitely greater? Viewing prayer in this way completely changed the way that I see and feel towards prayer.

[karlb]

This is why God enlightens you! Because you are honest with yourself and not ashamed to share it!
Bless you, Sir!
Thank you.