Why do we struggle to pray? As I sat at my desk, reading my Bible, I ask myself this question. Why does it seem so hard to settle myself down to pray? 

We know the importance of prayer. We understand that it is by communicating with God that we include Him in our lives. So many times God is waiting on us to invite Him to help.  

I welcome Him to get up into my business. I praise Him for who He is and thank Him for the blessings and favor He has given me. It’s my time to build my relationship with Him.

Why, oh why then, do I struggle? Why do you? I go through seasons. Is it because I don’t want Him in my business? Is it because I have some prayers I haven’t seen answered? Am I mad? Or, just disappointed?

In the movie, Sleepless In Seattle, Sam (Tom Hanks) explains a bit about dating and some things he’s confused about to his son, Jonah and says, “These are things I’m willing to get to the bottom of.” That’s kinda how I’m feeling about me and prayer. 

These questions come at a good time for me. For one thing, I always welcome questions from my heart. When we begin to think and dig deeper into our relationship with God, we always win. God is such a good, good Father. He takes our questions and guides us into some really good answers. Assuming, of course, that we are willing to dig deeper into His word and listen to what it’s speaking into our situations.

Another reason this is a good time is that I am beginning to work through Lysa TerKeurst’s new study, Finding I AM, with a couple of  small groups at my home church. Get ready, you will probably hear more about this study as we progress. I love this quote in week one addressing some of our feelings about unanswered prayers, “Those answers and the easing of that ache aren’t the source of finally becoming fully satisfied. They aren’t. And you believing this lie is a scheme of Satan to keep you in an unsatisfied place.” 

One of the focuses of ministry for me is the idea that our perspectives are powerful. How we perceive our circumstances influences our response to our situation – whether our circumstances change or not. What is my perspective on prayer? What is yours? Not the one we know we should have. The one that we really have.

Let’s get to the bottom of our feelings on prayer. Dig in. Let’s ask ourselves the hard questions. While we are at it, let’s ask God to let our hearts burn within us as He teaches us through His word.

They said to one another, “[a]Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was [b]explaining the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32, NASB

Footnotes:

a. Luke 24:32 Lit Was not our heart
b. Luke 24:32 Lit opening