The Ugly Truth About My Prayer Life
I’ll be the first to say I stink at prayer. I know, I know… you’re going to say “How can you stink at prayer, you’re a pastor?” I understand. I know it seems weird and trust me when I say I’m not proud of this fact.
Now I’m not saying I don’t pray or I don’t enjoy prayer. I’m not saying I don’t understand it or I need help understanding why we pray. I’m just saying I stink at prayer and my prayer life is not where I want it to be.
The painful thing is what my weak prayer life says about me. Here’s the ugly truth. My lack of prayer proves…
I underestimate the power of prayer and overestimate my own ability.
I’m not really as hungry for the intimacy with God I so regularly publicly declare as a desire of my heart.
While I would like to know God’s will for my life I’m clearly more committed to my will, my plans and my agenda.
I’ve bought into the illusion that there are more important things to do than spending time with the creator of the universe.
I’ve reduced prayer to a list of things I think I want or need and I currently don’t need to “use” God for anything.
So how’s your prayer life? What does your prayer life or lack of prayer life say about you?
I am right there with you. Sadly.
Maybe because I suspect with more intimacy comes more responsibility or change… and maybe I am afraid of that.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Running Scared =-.
Ouch! Convicting but true, good work Pete.
.-= Mac Lake´s last blog ..Making Coaching Work – Bill Donahue =-.
In the car this morning I was just thinking about this very fact – how do I get my mind to open up to the Father in a way that goes beyond my usual litany of worries and shopping list like items. Amazing how easy it is to drift into a play-by-play of whatever TV show I watched the night before but be unable to focus on a conversation with God for more than a few minutes. Ouch.
.-= thegypsymama´s last blog ..Slam (brother) Poetry =-.
Oh my, a “pastor” with weaknesses and faults. And the nerve to share them publically!
THANK YOU!
I have been raised around the Bible and God my whole life, given the list of rules, heard the same stories over and over…I’ve come to realize that most christians say they “believe”, but if they read what the Bible says and teaches and really, really believed its promises, this world would be turned upside down.
God has been showing me this in all areas of my life, but especially prayer. My selfish desires are so hard to let go of in my prayers.
Ouch. It stinks. All the things above ring a little too true for me.
I’m okay at the in the middle of the day conversation with God type of prayer but I am terrible at the I’m going to sit down and be quiet with God type of prayer.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..An Easy Way To Keep Track Of Your Favorite Blogs =-.
I’m there too! I totally think it’s my fault, but I think our culture doesn’t help. We are always busy and moving and having noise so the idea of sitting quietly and leaving all our lives open to God is not the “norm.” I just stink at being quiet!
I think my weak prayer life says that I am too busy for God. I can always find a reason to put prayer off until just a little bit later and it seems ‘later’ never comes. I am trying harder and harder these days to discipline myself to make it a priority, its tough.
.-= Nick´s last blog ..Embracing Faith Bigger Than Ourselves =-.
I feel like my prayer life stinks sometimes. I try to pray eloquently sometimes and that doesn’t work out to well
So, one thing Pete, that you have taught me is to just pray from your heart and have a conversation with God. I do catch myself praying throughout the entire day (Phil 4:17) all the time.
As I was driving to work today, I was talking to God and said, “God, what if people gave up 30mins of their social networking (twitter, myspace, facebook, blogging, etc…) for you, what a difference it would make in their life and mine too!”
.-= Falguni´s last blog ..Prayer Needed =-.
You must put things in Gods hands! It is through Prayer that God answers! Each day you are able to turn something over to God because He is in control, not us, then you will be saying your prayers even when you think you are not =) Prayer comes in many ways and you are only thinking “In The Box”…look outside of the box and you will be praying in your own special way! Try it today…it really works!!
Pete,
LOVE your honesty and real-ness.
I so relate. Working on changing my attitude towards prayer so I do “need” God even when it’s smooth sailing.
Thanks!
I seem to pray throughout the day well, but when it comes to ‘in the closet, on my knees’ deep prayer, I fall woefully short of the rug. Thank you for being transparent and disclosing what many of us realize but don’t necessarily reveal to our small groups for fear of judgment. The real story here is the busyness in our lives, and that is taking priority over our prayer life – as if we have decided, by choice, that everything else is a priority over a few minutes with the Lord of lords.
Funny you mention this subject today, Pete. (Warning: shameless promotion ahead.) I’m just finishing a book that comes out next summer called CONFESSIONS OF A PRAYER SLACKER. I’ve learned the hard way there’s just no excuse to blow off a committed prayer life if we love God as much as we say we do. PAINFUL lesson to learn, but true, and oh what a difference it makes! Thanks for your transparency, pastor. It’s something we all struggle with.
Excellent thoughts. Thanks for your honesty.
For me, my struggle with prayer is due to “good things.” I feel as though I am too busy doing Jesus-things to stop and pray.
It’s a classic case of sacrificing the best things for some good things.
Sounds ridiculous, I know.
.-= Brandon Smith´s last blog ..Free Catalyst Tickets and the Gospel =-.
I struggle with this like you Pete. It’s encouraging in a strange way to see you openly admit your struggles.
The hard part for me is that I pray and pray and pray and really feel like it’s a one way conversation. I’ll stop for hours to just listen and hear nothing. Really dampens the desire to spend time in prayer.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..I have to admit "Purpose Driven Life" sounds about right =-.
Pete, I think that’s the first time I’ve EVER heard a Pastor speak out about how his prayer life is not where he wants it to be.
Thank you for your transparency and honesty!!
.-= Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..First batch of Vegas pictures! =-.
@Diane, I can’t wait to read the book! So excited about this.
I stink at prayer. I do talk to God throughout the day and try to listen to him, but that getting in the closet alone with God thing…I rarely do. I’m just lazy and selfish. Period.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Asheville Weekend =-.
my prayer life says i prioritize the worthless self indulgent things in my life above the thing i was created to be most satisfied in. doesn’t sound good when you put it that way.
I read an article a couple weeks ago that indicated that most pastors find this to be one of their biggest weaknesses. I know for me, that is certainly true, and I think it to be pretty accurate.
I wonder, why is that? And is it as common as I (and this other article) think?
.-= Aaron B. Reddin´s last blog ..Maybe I Should Ship Homeless Sex Offenders to Atlanta…. =-.
I love prayer, but sometimes it´s so hard. Right now especially. I´m scared that my prayers are too late or that God´s will is something different than what I pray for. But all I can do is pray and it seems so hopeless.
.-= Kati´s last blog ..Jaak still missing… =-.
Dang Pete! Thanks so much for this. Once again, you give us the gift of going first…
I blogged about relying on my own ability last week. I do it all the time and I hate that I do. I know I don’t stop enough. Not enough solitude in my regular schedule to allow me to hear God’s voice in the noisy times. Working on that!
.-= Jason Gordon´s last blog ..i2 – Overcoming Obstacles =-.
At least you’re honest about it.
Good post.
.-= MichaelHolmes´s last blog ..THe Secret to Resurrecting Dead Ministries =-.
I stink big time at prayer. Praying for others I can do, but setting aside the time for just me and God one on one….no so much. I want to do it, strive to do it, but always feel like I come up way to short. I start to sweat when people gather to pray. I’m always afraid someone is going to figure out that the pastor’s wife stinks at prayer.
.-= DisneyCyndi´s last blog ..Contributing to the delinquency of a minor! =-.
I go through seasons of much prayer and little prayer. Right now I am somewhere in the middle but after this morning I see me heading towards the much much prayer end of the spectrum.
I sure wish I had of read your blog today before I sent you that email this morning. Geeez!
.-= Harold´s last blog ..Isaias Gabriel – Making The Difference in the DR =-.
Wow – I hate to say I resonate with this post, but I do. I also wonder, when I do pray, am I praying big enough? Do I pray for things that I can do myself anyhow? or am I praying that I’ll be out on a limb and God will show up?
Thank you again Pastor Pete and your whole WithoutWax community. I needed this today!
Connected with another pastor this past week at the D6 Conference about this very thing. We confessed our struggle with this and prayed for one another. I was also convicted by the passionate description by Richard Ross of being in the presence of the Almighty to adore Him so I can go out and make Him known.
Thanks for your honesty.
.-= Randy Kinnick´s last blog ..Enough!… =-.
I think everyone could improve in this area. I struggle with it as well. I think in today’s society everything is go go go, it takes serious will and determination to just STOP and get with God. Not just talk to God, but to listen as well. It’s really hard.
I appreciate your honesty here Pete.
.-= Trina´s last blog ..MAC Paint Pots =-.
Hey! You should check out the book ‘The Happy Intercessor’ by Beni Johnson. Its helped me immensely with my prayer life…and btw, this isn’t an ad or anything…it has just helped me a lot…I share it with a lot of people!
Great post. May I repost at my blog?
Mike Ellis
.-= Mike Ellis (@marketermikee on Twitter)´s last blog ..Helping Her Was The Last Thing =-.
I am amazed and thrilled with your honesty. It’s only when we get real that we can start to change. I used to be so much more consistent in my prayer life than I am now. I’ve realized recently I’m worrying more than praying! Trying to change that this week, turning my thoughts to Scripture when I start to mull over a problem. I need to take the Time to “make my requests known to God” so I can leave them with Him and walk on in faith and joy! Thank You for sharing!
Dude, it takes guts to admit that. If I’m being completely honest I would have to say that I’m right there with you. I wish I could say I’m one of those guys with the great prayer life who talks with God all the time, but I’m not. It’s something I’m still working on and will probably be working on all my life.
Thanks for sharing.
.-= Brad Ruggles´s last blog ..The Importance of Attitude in Meetings and Proposals =-.
After being out of ministry now for a year and a half I believe I wasn’t near as effective as I should have been because of all the reasons you talked about. I hope one day God calls me back into full time vocational ministry but unroll then I work on areas like my prayer life untill He does. I really recommend Richard Foster’s book on spiritual disciplines to help in matters like these.
In case it helps your motivation level, Pete, here’s a quote I wrote down once in hopes of motivating myownself to start the day off with prayer:
“Unless in the first waking moments of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide . . . and pray to your Father . . . and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.” –Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost for His Highest”
.-= Jan C.´s last blog ..Funerals =-.
OK… this would have been me a year ago but I had a huge epiphany: I could change this.
I started easy-peasy by reading a psalm every day and underlining the key phrase and then writing about it in my journal, as prayer. From there, I added the Lord’s Prayer. From there, I started a slow walk (and I mean slow) through the NT, I’m on Acts and in my second year (about 6-8 verses at a time). I’m now blogging too … and all of these things are driving me deeper and deeper into the simple habit of prayer.
I even track the number of days I have my morning meditation… sound anal? It is, but before, the enemy would use my “misses” as condemnation: “see, you’ll never be consistent in prayer.” But now, I can say back, “look I’m at 80%… it’s ok.” God loves me and I’m still praying, reading, meditating, singing.
Most recently, as a result of reading a lot of Phyllis Tickle, I have been doing “fixed hour” of prayer in addition to the rest.
Don’t misunderstand… I am as busy as could be… but somehow, there’s room for this… I want it. I really really want prayer in my life.
.-= Irmgarde Brown´s last blog ..Really Looking =-.
You are not alone. I am trying each day to improve in this area.
I love that brought up your struggle and been transparent. I’d much rather have a struggling transparent pastor than one determined to remain on a pedestal.
Pete – Say what you will about your lousy prayer life, but do you remember when you prayed for me at Off the Blogs? After that prayer, I felt as though I could breath deeply again. You put into simple words what I could not express to God despite countless attempts on my own. So, thank you. I just wanted you to know how much that meant to me.
.-= katdish´s last blog ..The Matrix =-.
wow, a pastor who is HONEST and HUMAN. You officially have my attention!
I’m SO glad you spoke up about this! My prayer life isn’t the greatest, which is why I can relate to this too! I’ve been kind of nervous about pursuing ANY type of ministry…because the people I know in ministry spend hours in prayer, fast alot, and they might not enjoy it but they scare me off! Because I’m FAR from spending hours in prayer! Please continue to be transparent, we need to hear more from leaders who aren’t perfect! lol
I pray without ceasing.
I had a major change in my life due to a similar experience. I realized that my commitment to prayer had started to weaken. It was then that I started to wonder how that could be. I wondered if it was because I was just being lazy or if it was because I felt like prayer wasn’t doing anything for me. I felt that if I thought prayer worked that I would be more than motivated to keep doing it.
This along with subsequent study and pondering has led me to the belief that God doesn’t exist. This has been the hardest and also the best realization in my life. It all started with being honest with myself as you and others have been in this article.
Right there with ya Pete. The amazing part is that intellectually I (we) have the full knowledge of the power of prayer. The old testament profits operated in the gifts of the Spirit because of prayer. Jesus walked constantly with the Holy Spirit upon Him because of His disciplined prayer life; NOT because He was the son of God. The same thing is available to us today if we were to have a consistent prayer life, but even more importantly, come TOGETHER constantly in prayer. Imagine the church today living an “Acts” life.
What has helped me has been to crucify my flesh daily. Simply for me to be in the world but not of it. I seek to satisfy my desires with only the things of God. Not that these things in and of themselves are bad, (1 Cor. 10:23 all things are permissibly but not all things are beneficial), but every time something is added to our lives, it takes away from something else. Usually it’s our relationship with God that inevitably ends up suffering the most. By dying to my flesh, I am uninterrupted to focus only the things from above. And let’s face it, There is no real pleasure in anything of this world. These things may satisfy the flesh for a season but then leaves us searching for the next thing. Try ridding yourself of the things you don’t need, (which is MOST things), and you will find there is MUCH more time to spend with God and in return become fulfilled with the Godly things that not only bring joy and peace unspeakable here on earth but also are eternal.
‘I would like to know God’s will for my life but am more committed to my own will’…ouch. I’m working on this one.
I blab on about Moms in Touch alot but honestly being a part of a group of moms who prayed regularly each week did more to strengthen my prayer life than all the years I’ve spent in church. They helped me make it a habit.
A pastor at a church we belonged to used to say how much he disliked it when people say, ‘all we can do is pray.’ That’s a whole lot and we should view it as such.
.-= joyce´s last blog ..Not Out of the Box =-.
Pete first off bro I just love that you’re so open and honest! I totally appreciate it! I know it’s not always easy to do but it’s greatly appreciated when you open up like this! Know that you’re making a difference!
I heard someone say that the number 1 lie Christians tell is “I’ll pray for you”! Pretty sad right? I don’t know if it’s true or not but I just remember hearing that!
No matter what the case I still think we could all use more prayer time! I know this has really been a struggle for me lately! 3 weeks ago I was hired as a College Pastor and it’s been SO hard to balance my time! And unfortunately my alone time with God has been the one to suffer the most! I was actually praying about this the other day and I think it’s awesome that you posted about prayer! It’s definitely a gut check to me that I need to be devoting more time towards God and less towards the “work” for him!
Once again great post Pete! I know you’re crazy busy but if you get free sometime soon I’d love to catch up with you again!
Praying for you bro!
Hope to hear from you soon!
.-= T. Rousey´s last blog ..Is it about the Music or Jesus? =-.
My prayer life isn’t too bad, but there is definite room for improvement. It’s my bible studying that really stinks. I usually only read my bible if I ‘have to’ or if I’m bored during communion in church.
I find praying in the shower and in the car really beneficial as I chat to God about the day ahead. Or just taking some time to lie and rest with some music on in the background and wait to hear from God, intercede for people and bring stuff to him.
One of the most important things I learned was to stop believing that there’s only ‘one way’ to pray or that it should be done in a certain way. It used to really bring me down and hinder my prayer life because I felt guilty for being such a rubbish Christian…discovering that was very liberating, and my prayer life got much better as a result as I stopped trying to be someone else, and became the person God made me to be instead.
.-= Brunettekoala´s last blog ..Travelling Tuesday: Times Square, New York City =-.
Sadly, I am right there too. I try so hard and feel good about it then gradually stop praying, but I am quick to ask someone else to pray for me and my situation. Thats pretty bad isn’t it?! I guess I know what I need to focus on!!
YIKES! What can I say?? I’m sure we all struggle in that area . . . I KNOW I do!!
Lord, please help me to yearn for a closer relationship with you.
I am right there with you….Hate to admit it, but there it is, but I know that I can change this one day at a time. My prayer life is like a roller coaster – up and down, and it is more centered around me…..what I want, what I think I need. Thankfully, God is patient with me, and I long for a closer relationship with Him.
DUDE, I had this same thought process this morning… I love it when God is prompting his family similarily all over the country. I love the kindness of God. I love that in this bloggy world we share… and can be transparent. I love that I am not alone in my humanness, shortcomings, and that I am reminded of the immense Grace of God. Thanks for sharing and for prompting this cool convo.
.-= Kristi O´s last blog ..Autumn has arrived Karen Foster style =-.
Wow. Your words hit me right where I live. I’ve just been thinking (but not always praying) about this very thing. Thanks for helping us all think about how to truly connect with God’s will above our own.
Getting better over time. I have 4 kids and not a lot of time for myself or quiet prayer and meditation. I also have a little ADD so I bought a few books…My Utmost for His HIghest, Streams in the Desert and The Valley of Vision to help focus me since I have a hard time just freestylin’. I am not that talented. I also have a small bench in my 4 year old daughters room where I have my Kids Bibles and such and we sometimes pray together at that bench and have discussion. She loves it and it buys me more time in prayer. What that says about me is that I am a work in progress.
Great discussion for your blog. And Pete, your honesty blows me away. Your church is lucky to have you.
This post bothers me. I almost can’t articulate the reasons why. How can anyone “stink at prayer”?
What is prayer? Is it a competitive sport in Christian Olympics? Is it something we have to train for and practice and, if we’re REALLY dedicated, eventually excel at? Even if it isn’t a competitive sport in which we try to outdo the guy in the next lane, is it a skill for which we schedule practice time and devise measurement tools?
I always thought prayer was simply talking with God… simple conversation. Sometimes I think (we) Christians make things so much more complicated than they are. Why do we do this?
Why do we obsess about the minutes we spend in “quiet time”? Why do we feel compelled to memorize a set number of Scriptures or read through the Bible once per year or have a certain number of accountability partners? Why can’t we just be ourselves and love God and wait to see what happens (or what doesn’t) within that unique relationship?
Lots of times lately, I walk away from encounters with other Christians just shaking my head and thinking “Either they are nuts or I’m nuts… maybe we are all nuts.” I’m just so tired of trying to make sense of it. I’m finding myself wanting to pull away from the human “Christian community” altogether.
I do hope that you find peace about the issue. And to answer your questions about my prayer life: I’ve been talking with God a lot lately. I don’t know what that says about me other than I am in relationship with God.
Thanks for your honesty Pete. It’s taken me a long time to make my life a constant prayer. I don’t think prayer has to be intentional but a natural part of our day. I kind of have this ongoing conversation with God all day. Most of the time it’s not what one would think is the typical conversation with God. It’s like a conversation with my Dad; not asking for something but just being in relationship with Him. It’s amazing what God reveals when our prayer attitudes change from what we’ve been taught about prayer; it’s a conversation and not a duty. I would suppose that you probably pray with your thoughts more so than you think.
Your honesty is always refreshing. I’ve learned so much about prayer this past year.
To live a life of continual prayer…is more about the posture of your heart. A deep longing and understanding that his ways are bigger. That we need to become less so that He can become more. Making a conscious effort whether in a season of pain or a season of joy so that prayer becomes an unconscious part of us during the mundane times.
I find that even when folding the laundry or bathing my kids, while taking a walk or sweeping the floor my heart is focused inward and upward. This begins in baby steps.
A year ago my prayer life was horrible…because of all the clutter and unhealthy relationships, etc. Today, after a season of deep grief and releasing the clutter Prayer is an automatic outflow of a posture of obedience and longing.
Love this quote: “You pray best when the mirror of your soul is empty of every image except the Image of the Invisible Father.” – Thomas Merton
.-= jessica´s last blog ..Day of Atonement =-.
Pete, thank you so much for your honesty. I have been struggling with this my entire Christian life, and I feel like I am starting to be on the same page as my friend “ttm” above. Why do we put limitations on what “prayer” can look like? A friend and mentor wrote this to me when I asked him about his prayer life, and it has greatly impacted me:
“Someone went out to one of the abbas (desert monastics) and asked about becoming perfect. The abba asked what sort of work he did, and the fellow said, ‘I have quit work to fulfill the apostle’s command that we pray without ceasing.’ ‘How do you pray when you’re asleep?’ The abba asked. This fellow didn’t know what to say.
So the abba said, ‘I will tell you how I pray without ceasing. I weave baskets, and as I weave, I pray, Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. At the end of the day, I sell my baskets. I keep enough money to buy my food and leave the rest outside my door for whoever needs it. When I’m asleep, I trust that these people pray for me. That is how I have learned to pray without ceasing.”
I love this, because it teaches me that my prayer life is a constant communication, an ongoing back and forth between the Father and I. Whether I am working, serving, celebrating, or sitting in silence and listening, I am in prayer. I work to fix my mind on Christ in all that I do, and hear His voice speaking in every situation. It also teaches me that we can’t do prayer alone. We need each other to help us truly pray without ceasing.
I have certainly not reached my goals in this area, and I would like to spend much more time in focused stillness before the Lord because I recognize that this is an important part of the Christian walk, and it was modeled by Christ himself. But the type of prayer explained above seems to me a more holistic way of approaching our relationship to God.
Thank you for starting this important conversation!
.-= HIlary´s last blog ..Calling All Morning People! =-.
@Mike Ellis, sure, no problem!
Oh my goodness–my prayer life usually centers around me-ness. I’m working on it, it’s quite a struggle to go from selfish to self-less!
Thanks for sharing with us, Pete. So good to see how we can all be in prayer for one another.
.-= Tina Dee´s last blog ..Am I Crazy…or what??? =-.
Thank you ever so much for being honest. I have little ‘popcorn’ prayers throughout the day, but too keep putting everything (including internet!) ahead of sustained prayer. I am really trying to remedy this. Let me get off this internet now ….
Mine is stinkier than yours. However, I am not saying that proudly. I wrote about my situation at http://billgrandi.ovcf.org/wordpress/?p=2882 and can honestly say my prayer life has taken a dive. Sadly, I have a list that I pray through every day. Badly missing power though.
.-= bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Been Struggling Lately =-.
For a while I went by the philosophy of “pray at all times” meaning turn anything and everything into a prayer to God. Then I realized I was taking the easy way out. I’ve come to the conclusion that prayer is a practice. The more I practice the better I’ll get at it. I’m not a very disciplined person either so it’ll probably take more work for me than most people.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Music Monday =-.
I so desire a stronger, more real relationship with God and so why do I keep putting other things first? It’s so lame the excuses I come up with. I “know” the love and disciplines it takes to build a foundational love affair with Christ but dang it if I don’t every single day get wrapped up in all the busy. I heard somebody say once that distraction is the quickest way to get away from the Cross (or something like that) and that is true about prayer for me. I get lost among all the shinny things and then poof my day is gone.
.-= kristiapplesauce´s last blog ..Did I just think that? =-.
@ttm,
I can’t speak for anybody else but when I answer that I am not happy about my prayer life it is at the same level as saying “I haven’t spent enough time with so-and-so”.
Prayer is communication with God… and sometimes I just don’t communicate enough. I shut down or am too ‘busy’ to make the time. And just like any other relationship, I feel the impact of that negligence.
I don’t measure the amount of words that I speak to my children or put up checkboxes to make sure that I have given each the correct amount of attention. Our relationships are a key indicator of how well I am communicating with them. There are days that I have been away at work and I miss them terribly and just want to say, “I love you girls.. more than you know.”
My time, or the lack thereof, with God has the same impact.
Hope that sheds some light on my predicament.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Running Scared =-.
For focus, it helps to have an empty nest and retirement!! Journaling my prayers after reading My Utmost For His Highest and Experiencing God devos brought me closer, more intimate with Him.
Jeff, jessica, Hillary, and Tony York: Your comments have helped me immensely. I don’t feel as frustrated. I feel hopeful. Thank you.
And, Pete, thank you for opening the dialogue. I’m sorry if I came across as critical or disrespectful of your original post. I’m going through a mini crisis of faith lately.
Pete, thanks for this post and Tony, thanks for your comments.
.-= pendy´s last blog ..100% Humidity =-.
ttm…Thought I would comment again and just say that I completely understand where you are, the questions, the doubts, and the fear. I had to walk completely away from the “human community” to find myself and find God. It’s difficult. It’s messy. It hurts. He does not ask this of everyone. But finding Him is worth whatever he asks of you, whatever risk he asks you to take in meeting him. It’s worth it.
A prayer by Thomas Merton: “You do not wait for me to become great before you will be with me and hear me and answer me. It is my lowliness and my humanness that have drawn you to make me your equal by condescending to my level and living in me by your merciful care.”
“…the way I see things, God loves you the same whether you’re being elegant or not. It feels much better when you are, but even when you can’t fake it, God still listens to your prayers.” – Anne Lamott
Blessings.
.-= jessica´s last blog ..Day of Atonement =-.
Im a “Lay me down to sleep” prayer. I pray almost always as I climb into bed at night. i just talk, nothing special. I find i pray in the car too now that i drive a lot. ( well until I get road rage
But I stink at reading my Bible. I can almost say I hate it. I feel like I dont understand it.
When I was a kid I had these bibe taps they were bible stories done by a Guy named DAN and His Puppet called LOUI. they were the best and I knew a ton of scripture by heart because of them. (seriously ask jen about them. They were so funny
I hope I will like it better sometime soon
.-= jessica´s last blog ..A Great Big Gift =-.
Sadly, I needed to read this.
Hey, Pete-how do you get your picture to show up in the box to the side of your comment?
Thank you, jessica.
@ttm, no apology needed. I didn’t take any offense to your comment at all. I’m in no way trying to guilt anyone into prayer or trying to make a Christian sport out of it.
I was just honestly stating why I don’t pray more.
@Kim, I don’t have a clue.
Can anyone tell Kim how you get your pic to show up next to your comment?
Seems like most people are in the same boat or maybe just me. This hits home because I was really trying to get in the word and connect with God last night. But at the same time I know it won’t be by my effort, but we need to pursue God, but he is pursuing us… Prayer confuses me.
.-= Chris Sullivan´s last blog ..Baseball? Nah, I’ll Preach =-.
@kim – sign up here: http://en.gravatar.com/
@pete: I mastered prayer a long time ago. on to more important things.
.-= Jeff Goins´s last blog ..The Church Needs Violent Men =-.
I mostly stink at prayer, but now your post has inspired me to spend some time praying tonight about a lot of stuff… Thanks for being so honest Pete!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Housesitting Fun =-.
I, too, completely stink at prayer. I think it’s partly because it’s never quiet. There’s always something around to entertain me, and I’m always thinking about the next thing. Even mid-prayer, I have random thoughts about what I’m going to do after I finish praying.
.-= Vanity of Vanities´s last blog ..Had the Sickies =-.
My prayer life is definitely not where it should be. Even though God keeps showing me that I need to work on this part of our relationship, I keep avoiding it. I find myself making excuse after excuse, as if any excuse I could possible come up with would validate my avoiding time with God, the One who breathed the stars into existence. It is very difficult, as I’m sure we all know. I just don’t know how to stop making excuses and start making my actions match my words.
.-= susan´s last blog ..My Life =-.
Strangely, I pray a LOT. I clean for a living, so as I go through my day, I am praying. I hate to admit this, but it certainly isn’t helping me feel closer to the Lord.
I can so relate to this. Prayer has always been one of my biggest spiritual “weaknesses”. My church has being having prayer meetings every Wednesday for the month of September and I’ve gone every week (that level of consistency is in itself a miracle w/ my schedule). I can honestly say my life is different now – not just my prayer life, but the changes in that arena have spilled over into other parts of my life.
Still not where I’d like to be, but I’m getting there…
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..The Day My Whole World Changed =-.
It sucks. (Can I say that on your blog?) But it’s the truth, and I know the reason it does is because I’m pushing my peas around the plate about getting honest with God about junk in my life and I know it’s going to be a painful process of dealing with it and I’ve somehow bought into the lie that ignoring it means that it’s not real.
.-= CarpoolQueen´s last blog ..I smell a rat =-.
@carpool queen, not sure if you can say it or not but you just did.
I think your reasoning plays a lot into my situation as well.
Pete,
Its your realness and brutal honesty that brings God way more glory! I stink at praying I fall asleep and chase rabbits more times than I would like to admit. I love that fact that sometimes I sit and just say God will you search my heart and in that moment saying nothing says so much! Thanks again:)
.-= Holly Myers´s last blog ..whats that smell? =-.
Convicting. I have certainly been there. I have found that the more risks I take and the further out on the edge I get, the less I have to remind myself to pray. It’s in those times when I’ve created a way to do life without God that I find myself doing just that.
.-= Kester´s last blog ..Longing For A Blessing =-.
It is the constant battle between flesh and the Spirit. I do know that I am more fulfilled as a person when my connection to the Vine is strong- and that connection comes from my personal relationship with Christ, mostly via prayer. Thanks for being so transparent.
.-= Melissa Multitasking Mama´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday- Hives =-.
My prayer life is like the moon, it revolves in cycles, I am praying more to avoid the eclipses than ask for god’s presence in my life.
I know what you mean…my prayer life could always use some improvement…but my issue is reading my bible, I’m not where I want that to be. That’s where I struggle!
Pretty much stinks. I could have written this post myself, word for word. Just now, I pray for the grace to change.
.-= Barry Wallace´s last blog ..Is theology your idol? =-.
I’ve been guilty of treating God like my wife, just talk only when I have needs. Makes for a rotten marriage and prayer life. I don’t have trouble talking (in both). Just listening (ditto). Years ago Ruth (wife of Billy) Graham said when she ran dry, she read a few prayers of the ancient Christians. So I do. Makes me glad I don’t face beheadings.
.-= Tom´s last blog ..First Day: Know Your Locale =-.
I am actually praying a lot more these days. I am driving more these days – 39 miles twice a week to one college and 36 miles three times a week to the other college and then my other job I drive around a lot too. Soooo rather than turning on the radio I talk to God and let me tell you I am starting to notice a difference. And I am learning that some of the prayers I am praying will take time before there are answers but I am learning to be consistent and to keep at it on a daily basis and I know God is starting to change me and I do believe that when all is said and done there is going to be another prayer warrior in this world. So if you want me to pray for something let me know I will put it on my prayer list
.-= Kathi Waddle´s last blog ..I Will Rise =-.
Chapter 4 of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
Trust me.. read it.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..An Ecclectic Reading List =-.
We fail at prayer because we expect too much. It’s easy to talk to God all day. Just carry on a conversation with Him. We don’t have to be on our knees or have long long prayers. Once the habit of talking to Him all the time is developes (either orally or in our minds) then prayer is an ongoing thing. This is not to say we should not have earnest prayer and times of quiet prayer closet prayer but we can turn off the tv and the radio and just talk to Jesus.
Also, Pastor, I would like to see you teach about Jesus and the Bible and stop banging on other religions, beliefs and churches. Jesus, He died for our sins and He also said in the New Testament to “leave them alone if they are preaching Jesus”. Your justifications when comments are made like this lead one to beleive, you have a personal grudge against other churches…”regular churches” and that is a sin. You could be doing a huge work for God if you focus on Christ and not what is wrong with other churches. No offense intended here, just plain truth.
@Cynthia, not sure whose messages you’ve been listening to but I don’t think you’ve been listening to mine.
You will hear me regularly state in messages and here on the blog that Cross Point is not a “perfect” church or the “only” church but we partner with churches in our community and around the world to become the body of Christ.
I’m absolutely open to criticism and “plain truth” as you call it but let’s get our facts straight Cynthia.
I’m right with you. Thanks for your transparency. Keep writing.
.-= David Zook´s last blog ..Envy: The Robber of Contentment =-.
I wish I could say that I don’t struggle in this area as well. I fear I am horrible at intercessory prayer…whether it is because I suffer from a severe case of self-centeredness or I am just forgetful. More than likely, I am selfish and self-centered. I deeply desire to be a better prayer warrior for others and to pray far less about my selfish wants and desires.
Thanks for letting us all know you struggle in this area as well!
.-= Chrystie´s last blog ..His Scent =-.
i am SO glad i’m not the only one…
.-= alece´s last blog ..for Christ’s sake =-.
Sounds like our prayer life is similar. I pray when I want/need something and when I feel it’s expected of me. I think it says that I rely on me more than Him and that I have a ton to learn about the power of God.
.-= David ´s last blog ..Perspective: Beauty =-.