Page 28 - January15-Catalyst

dOon’T feel like praying?
ver the years I have been amazed at tion of the Christian toward prayer. We
the paltry desire I’ve felt to pray. I am need to recognize the role that prayer plays
especially aware of this aversion just prior to the times that I’ve specifically set aside to pray, whether in private or with others. I suppose this confession may come as a sur- prise to some. Others relate immediately and may even be comforted by the admis- sion that they are not alone in their weak longings when the hour of prayer arrives.
lack of moTivaTion?
There are reasons for this lack of motiva- tion. I see four:
The independence of the flesh – I have said many times that prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God. As believers we are “spirit critters in an earth suit.”[i] Our new man desires God but our flesh wants to live independently. In the natural we resist humble reliance on God and transparent intimacy with other be- lievers, both of which are germane to real prayer. When we feel apathy toward prayer, we need to recognize the prayer-oriented desires of the Spirit in our hearts and give them priority over the resistance of our flesh that tends toward self-reliance, self- protection and self-determination.
The relentless attack of the enemy – I’ve heard it said, “No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” Pastor Jim Cymbala has noted, “The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God.” Satan and his demons seek to counter and diminish every inten-
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in the spiritual battle (see Ephesians 6:18) and resolve to be “praying menaces” to the enemy of our souls.
The buSyneSS of our modern liveS – Busyness destroys relationships, starting with our primary relationship with God. I am convinced that busyness is the breeding ground of self-sufficiency and lures us into the deceptive life pattern that concludes that we can conduct our Christian life by our own efforts rather than through a hum- ble and heartfelt abiding in Christ through prayer. I am reminded of the familiar ad- age that if the devil cannot make us bad he will simply keep us busy. E.M. Bounds has written, “‘Too busy to pray’ is not only the keynote to backsliding, but it mars even the work done. Nothing is well done without prayer for the simple reason that it leaves God out of the account. It is so easy to be seduced by the good to the neglect of the best, until both the good and the best perish.”
The unpleaSanT memory of previouS ex- perienceS – Dave Butts, author and Chair- man of America’s National Prayer Com- mittee, often states that “the main reason most people do not attend prayer meetings at their church is because they have been to prayer meetings at their church.” Sadly, many people give in to their excuses about prayer because their past experiences of prayer have been traditional rather than biblical; man-centered rather than God- centered; request-based rather than wor- ship-based. Few Christians really enjoy
January 2015