Why am I having such a hard time to take the time to pray?

Question

I'm a christian who goes to church, joins fellowships, serves in sunday school ministry, gives financially, and hangs out with mostly church-goer friends.. I truly believe in God and I'm very thankful of his grace and salvation.. I know all about the importance of prayer, but for some reasons, I'm having the hardest, hardest time trying to pray. I never know what to say other than thank you for what I've had... I've never really "heard" anything from God either.. although I know he's there and real. Help!

Thanks for the outpouring of thoughtful answers...

FYI: giving thanks was never really an issue for me. I do realize I have a lot to be thankful for and I don't find it difficult to express it to God... But when it comes down to sharing my thoughts and problems with God... or when I want to ask for anything from him... I just don't know how, I often feel so undeserving... and not wanting to come of as being so needy... Anyone ever feel the same way?

Answer 1

Talk to God just as you would your best friend.God loves to hear us talk to him.He doesn't like us to say memory prayers,that's for babies.Just talk to God from your heart.Prayer is your time with your father.Satan will do any thing to destroy that .Please just spend time alone with your Father and tell him ,how much you love him and what is going on.Remember he knows but its so nice to hear someone say I love you,lets spend some time together.<><

Answer 2

Hey buddy,
I read about the first 5 answers and decided i better write. It is important to talk to God all day everyday. When my family leaves in the morning I ask God to protect them through out the day. When they come home safely, I tell him thank you for answering my prayer. When I go to sleep I ask him to watch over our home and us, in the morning I tell him thank you. Every time I start my car, I ask him to keep me and other drivers safe. I don't think it matters what you say, its just keeping the communication lines open. I have found that the older I get, the harder it is to pray as well. I think it is because the way the world has become. T.V doesn't inspire us to remember God, the media and computer and other things only take us away from him as well. This is the winding up scene before the Savior comes again and anything Satan can do to destroy our communication with God he will do. Just look for example at all the teens these days with ipods stuck in their ears and cell phones glued to their heads. Please don't feel discouraged, just tell God you are having a hard time and he will listen. I have also noticed for me I feel closer to God when I pray after reading scriptures. God Bless you! Everything will be fine!

Answer 3

How do you interact with your friends? Are you real with them? Can you have conversations that go deeper than the surface?
Have you ever had anything that was bothering you? Have you ever tried just talking to God and telling Him what you're feeling and thinking at that moment. Prayer is quite easy but many times we think we have to have some kind of formula or sentence to say. This boils down to nothing more than religion.
Have you ever thought about just telling Him you're struggling with what to say? Have you ever asked Him to help bring to mind the things you should be praying for?
These may seem like simple questions but they didn't come easy for me, either. I never had a dad I could ask anything of. So, I've had to learn/am learning how to ask Father God as a daughter would ask her father questions.
I can tell you this, you prayers are very important and the enemy will fight you tooth and nail with whatever He can to prevent you from following through.
Ever get a phone call when you were trying to pray? Ever think of caulking the bathtub when you were trying to pray? Sometimes the most ridiculous things come to mind and it's an assault on our thoughts to keep us distracted.

Answer 4

It's because you haven't first learned one of the key components of Christian life - continuous prayer. When you're really locked into God, when He is at the forefront of your life, you are ALWAYS praying....in an almost subconscious way...to the point where you don't have to put words to it really. The words almost become the icing on top. Maybe what you'll soon realize is that you already do this.....and you really shouldn't worry about the words as much.

Answer 5

You talk to Him exactly what is on your heart like you would to your earthly Father. It's a relationship and it develops slowly as you go before Him with all your burdens, thanksgivings, your love for Him etc...
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

You will hear from Him when you seek with all your heart. Also after you pray, have a quiet moment & listen to that still small voice. He does speak to us but we need to give Him quiet time & listen.
Psalm 46:10
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

Also get yourself rooted in His Word. I don't know if you study the Bible but it would help to sign up for Bible study through your church or go online.

You can go to www.doersoftheword.org
click on audio bible school, scroll down and there are many different subjects you can do studies on. There are many studies on "prayer" and "effective prayer"...all according to scripture and they don't take long about 15-20 min. to listen to.

Answer 6

obviously you really dont know how to pray, because your thinking religiously following after people and their prayers and not following your heart, if you really do believe. when you pray, you are speaking from your heart, and all it is, is like talking to someone or your best friend in secret, not letting anyone know your deepest thoughts. It Says In The Bible, That We Pray In Secret Not Aloud In Many Scriptures That Religious People Make Known In Public, That Is Just Man Made Religion. Now It Also Says In The Bible That If You Deny Jesus Christ Publically Among Men, Then Jesus Christ Will Deny You Publically Among His Father Who Is In Heaven. It Has Nothing To Do With Open Prayer, Where It Be Made To Be Public Or Private.

Your thoughts of prayer is just too worldly that distracts you from really praying, Jesus Said For Those Who Did Not Really Know How To Pray, Pray Like This, And you Have To Mean It From Your Heart: Our Father Who Are In Heaven, Holloweth Be Your Name, Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread(the Bible), And Help Us To Forgive Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors, And Lead Us Not Into Temptations But Deliver Us From Evil, For Yours Is The Kingdom And Power And Glory Forever, Amen

Answer 7

I would suggest you establish a routine...it usually takes 21 - 30 days to get used to a new habit.

Turn off the radio in your car on the way to/from work and pray, all prayer doesn't have to be done in a kneeling position.
If you need something to focus on, get a dashboard Jesus.

Point is, you can find plenty of time to pray, if you truly want to.

Answer 8

When I pray I talk to god like I would a friend. I usually start off by thanking him for all that I have and to forgive my sins. It's funny because I pray to God the best in the middle of the night. Maybe there's too much going on around you when you pray. God speaks to you not in words but in actions in your life. You can see him work in your life when you have that good personal relationship with him.

Answer 9

It is hard at times to schedule yourself to pray. It does need some commitment sure but what I find that helps is every morning I wake up and say thank you God for another day to make myself worthy to you. Then throughout my day I will talk to him like he is here with me.(and he is). In addition to thanking him for all he has done for you, pray for others less fortunate, Ask for more wisdom.
When you have the time, sit with pen and paper and tell God what is in your heart. Your feelings, your needs, your happiness that He is in your life. Praise Him. And ask forgiveness of your sins. You can pray to God or praise Him whenever the feeling strikes you .
Like you I am not fortunate enough to hear God speak to me but my mom and others have. I think you have to diligently seek him or be quiet long enough to hear him speak. God bless this man!

Answer 10

As a Christian, you'll run into no better competition from the demonic realm than once you attempt to desire. Even Jesus' disciples fell asleep and had to ask Him to coach them the thanks to desire. subsequently, we've the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 as a form. i exploit it as a progression to save me on course. I unquestionably have also discovered that by technique of starting up my prayer time by technique of speaking in tongues, it acts like starter fluid. possibly because the devil can't intrude because it bypasses the organic innovations and includes a language only for God (a million Corinthians 14:2).

Answer 11

Kingdom of God is within you. Be at peace with the realization that you are God! Objectified mental or chanting prayer has its limitations, though can be helpful in the initial stage. Abide in your true self which is beyond mind and body. Self-knowledge or Self-realization is the solution. Spirituality is the ultimate goal which is an unconditioned, liberated and blissful state of being of consciousness.