Jon Bloom, in his article, “Do You Pray Enough” for Desiring God writes:
Guilt is a terrible motivator for any behavior, except repentance. We cannot sustain ongoing spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, from a sense of guilt. That’s not what guilt is designed to achieve, and it’s why feeling bad over not praying enough will never turn us into men and women who “pray without ceasing”
Interesting, isn’t it? I would be willing to bet most of us cut our teeth as Christians with guilt as our motivator. Whether it be: evangelism, reading God’s Word, or prayer; the drive to pursue these disciplines often comes with a heavy dose of guilt.
I want to give you a better motivator. I need a better motivator! I submit to you that this better motivator is God Himself.
How do you seek to sustain a life of ongoing prayer? When you think of the spiritual disciplines where does the strength to continue come from?
The apostle Paul encouraged Timothy in his ongoing spiritual training when he said:
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
I Timothy 4:10
Paul provides for us the reason we can enduringly toil and strive, it is because the living hope we have in Christ. Certainly, prayer is a part of the believer’s “toil and striving”. It is in this context that Paul doesn’t seek to drop guilt upon our souls. Instead, he drives us straight to the Gospel by telling us to, “set your hope on the living God, who is the Savior…!”
A Much Needed Gospel Reminder
I don’t know about you, but I am quick to forget the glories of the Gospel. My reflex seems to be in the direction of guilt and not in the direction of the Gospel. It is in these Certainly, prayer is a part of the believer’s “toil and striving”. It is in this context that Paul doesn’t seek to drop guilt upon our souls. Instead, he tells us to, “set your hope on the living God, who is Savior…!”
A Reminder Of Who He Is
He Is Our Father
When Jesus set out to teach His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, he began with, “Our Father…” Jesus was not seeking to give us a formula for ritualistic, mindless prayer; He was introducing us to a stunning relationship! We are to call out to our Maker, who is Holy and infinite in wisdom and strength via the relationship Christ has made possible! He is Our Father!
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:9-13
Furthermore, we pray to our God who is able, who is good, and who is wise. Study the attributes of God and inform your faith in who God is. His goodness is matched with his power and wisdom. He is able, which speaks of the omnipotence of God. But, we do not simply serve a God who is able, as He is also wise. Imagine serving an all-powerful God who was not omniscient. Or, imagine serving an all-wise God who lacked power. This god would know the right thing to do but he would lack the power to make it happen.
What’s More, Our Able, Good, Wise God Is For Us.
Consider who He is and what He has done for you and be freshly inspired to pray! Our faithful God who created you, redeemed you, gave you His Spirit, He will finish what He has begun in you, and much more! (Philippians 1:6) (See: Romans 8:31-39)
Do you believe that God is for you? If yes, then with a heart full of faith, pray!
So, Why Don’t We Pray?
Sure, we all have busy lives but is there more to it than busyness? I say yes! I have found that my lack of prayer has more to do with what I believe than what I am doing. A lack of prayer says something about my belief and trust in God’s Word. Simply put, a lack of prayer does not believe that God is who He says He is. If you and I believe all that we know in our heads about God, we would certainly pray more! It is one thing to know and affirm a truth it is quite another thing to act on it.
What Are We To Do?
The last thing this blog post is seeking to do is to further bury us in guilt! Of course, we don’t pray enough. Who of us thinks otherwise? May I suggest that we begin by reminding ourselves of the Gospel and these simple truths about our God, and then…. I think we should simply pray. Ask God to help you become a man or woman of prayer. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and ask Him to increase your faith to pray.
Thanks Tim, outstanding read! There are so many truths packed into this short blog.I am both convicted and encouraged.
More of HIM and less of me let’s pray to the GODwe know and desire to know Him more deeply, more intimately!
Amen and Amen.
Thanks for reading and commenting Mace – I agree – more of Him and less of me!