Why I Don't Pray

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. - Matthew 7:7

I can hear the words echoing in my ears; “Why don’t you just pull over and ask for directions?”  If you are a husband you have probably heard these words many times coming from the passenger seat of your vehicle.  Men (and most humans) have a deep desire in us to figure it out in our own strength and wisdom.  Asking shows weakness, it is conceding that I cannot do it on my own.

Prayer is a constant act of humility that is founded on the premise that we need help.  In it we admit our own weakness and surrender to the power of an Almighty God.  Our problem is that too often we simply don’t pray.  So then we must ask the question, “Why am I not praying?”

I don’t pray because I don’t recognize my need

We live in a society that elevates self.  Entitlement rules our thinking which is fueled by marketing that tells us we are special because we are a premier member or holder of a discount card.  When we are lost we prefer to stay lost and figure it out ourselves rather than ask for help.  One of the biggest lies Satan has convinced us to believe is that we are ok, that we don’t need help.  People who pray recognize that God gives life and breath.  That He rules over all and all is subject to Him.  This same God invites us to ask, to come before His throne of grace and lay out our heart before Him.  What a privilege that people once dead in their trespasses and sins would be given access to and help from the God of the universe.

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:9-11

I don’t pray because I don’t believe God cares

God cares more about you than you will ever know, however the problem is that we view care from our perspective instead of God’s perspective.  Care defined by us often means that God does what I want him to do instead of God doing what I need.  We know what we want but God knows what we need.  When we feel like someone doesn’t care we don’t share our thoughts, feelings, and needs with them.  Why would we?  We have already concluded that they don’t care so why waste the time.  Don’t allow yourself to make a judgement on God.  Don’t make the conclusion that He doesn’t care.  Trust His person, His character, and His word and allow Him to care for you by developing a heart of prayer.

So today I encourage you to stop for a moment.  Let the world around you freeze.  Sit in the silence and listen.  Now think about all the struggles you cannot overcome, the heart changes that you cannot make, the lives that you cannot transform and ask the God who sits on the throne, the One who calls you son or daughter, the one who bought you with the precious blood of Christ to do far more than you can ask or imagine.  He is able, He is the God who cares.