Welcome to the final installment of my series on praying without ceasing. Quick review: the past three things that we've looked at that keep us from praying are 1) we're "too busy" for prayer, 2) we don't want to "bother" God and 3) we forget what prayer is. As you read the fourth and final common thing that keeps us from praying without ceasing, keep in mind how all the other hindrances to our prayer life occur because of this:
4. We forget who God is. This is one of the biggest hurdles, one of the deadliest lies, yet one of the most common things that so often keep us off our knees. We forget who God is. Yet if you prayed without ceasing, were in constant communication, with Him, do you think you would forget? No, I don't think so. If you served in Queen Victoria's court every day, all day, for the rest of your life, would you forget that you're serving the queen, the monarch of a great kingdom. No, I don't think so. Think how much more God is than Queen Victoria! God doesn't just rule over a little country; He rules over all nations, over all tribes and all tongues. He holds the world in His hands. He could snap His fingers and the earth could turn to dust. God is almighty and all sovereign, but we forget who He is. Think about this: If President Obama invited you to the White House, asking you to be his special guest, to bring your troubles about the nation to him, would you go? I'm guessing yes. So would I. Yet I'm also guessing that you'd make a huge deal about your trip. You'd prepare for it weeks in advance. You'd make sure you were looking your best. You'd practice what to say and how to act. You'd want to make the best impression. Yet how often we don't even make time to pray to the God of Heaven and Earth. Interesting, huh? We'd make more of a big deal about a sinful man than about our Creator. We'd worry more about what man would think about us than God. When we've forgotten who God is, our prayer life goes down the drain. When praying becomes more about us, we've lost sight of Who we're praying to. We've forgotten who God is.So what do we do? I'm guessing you're feeling pretty discouraged right now. All the things I've shared probably have hindered your prayer life from time to time. They've hindered mine too. So what do we do? Read this post, maybe even agree with it, and go on exactly the same way as before? I hope not. Let's apply these to our lives. But here lies the problem: how? This answer may sound cliche, but first: pray about it. Ask God to renew your prayer life. Then ask others (your parents, a godly friend, a mentor, your pastor) to keep you accountable. My mom and I meet once a week and she holds me accountable in my prayer life. Finally keep yourself immersed in the Word. I find that when I'm in a closer relationship with the Lord through the reading of His Word, I find that praying constantly comes a lot easier. Also, when I read about peoples' prayers in the Bible (i.e. the Psalms, Hannah's prayer, Hezekiah's prayer and many more) I'm encouraged in my prayer life.
"The same God that ordains to give a certain blessing has also ordained that we shall pray for it. We do not expect to change the will of God, but we believe our prayer to be a part of his will." C.H. Spurgeon