Skip to content

When You Don’t Feel Like Praying – Pray

When You Don’t Feel Like Praying – Pray
By Dennis Huebshman

Back in 1997, the Southern Gospel group Gold City had a song titled, “When You Don’t Feel Like Praying – Pray”. The main theme is there’s times we feel we’ve reached a break point, and there’s nowhere to turn. Unless someone has a good relationship with the Savior, He’s probably the last person thought of for us to contact, yet He should be first and foremost. (Note: all emphasis throughout is mine.)

One thing about calling out to the Father and our Savior is we’re never put on hold and our calls (prayer) goes directly to Him. To anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it’s a normal act to talk to the Father knowing Jesus makes sure the message gets through. This doesn’t come naturally at first, especially with new Christians, but over time it becomes much easier. Jesus told the disciples in John 16:23 “At that time, you will ask Me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you.” This does not mean a person can call on God as if He’s Santa Claus, but according to His will. He knows our needs even before we do, however, He still likes for us to ask Him for them. If we ask for something for selfish or evil reasons, His answer is “No”. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.”

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 for us to “always rejoice constantly pray, in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. James 5:12 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.” Philippians 4:4;6;19, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice. (6) Do not be anxious about anything. Instead in every situation through prayer and petition with thanksgiving tell your requests to God. (19) And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (That’s NEED, not GREED.)

For people who say they believe in “a God” but not Jesus, any prayer you have except to ask His Son to accept and forgive you, will not go past the ceiling. John 3:18 and 1 John 5:10-12 are verses that explicitly tell us we can’t have one without the other. If we have Jesus, we have the Father. If we don’t have Jesus, we have neither Some people believe there’s a third option, however, they need to read John 14:6, “Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Plain and simple; straight and narrows. If we call out to the Savior, He will accept us. (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13)

It’s become “fashionable” today to be politically correct and to try and not offend anyone. John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you don’t belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.” John 15:23, Jesus plainly states, “The one who hates Me, hates My Father too.”

This should be a major concern with every church of every denomination around the world. However, most people would rather please each other no matter what the belief than to please the Father by accepting His son. Paul says in Galatians 1:8 and repeated in verse 9, “But if we or an Angel from Heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to Hell”

Doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for an argument. Problem is, there is more love of things of this world than in God. This is covered in 1 John 2:15 where he says that anyone who loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. He goes on in verses 22 and 23 with, “who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the anti-christ; the person who denies the Father and Son. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.” Those who do not have Jesus in their hearts are missing out on the greatest resource we have and that’s being able to reach the Father directly through prayer.

As a note, John tells there have been anti-christs from the very beginning of the covenant of the Cross. There activity has been with us all these centuries and eventually the ultimate anti-christ will arrive. Paul tells of him in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-10, and wraps it up in verses 11-12. “Consequently, God sends them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so, all of them who have not believed in the truth, but have delighted in evil will be condemned.”

To those who willfully continue in sin, God does have His limits. In Jeremiah on several occasions God told the prophet, “Do not pray for these people! Do not cry out to Me or petition Me on their behalf! Do not plead with Me to save them because I will not listen to you!” (Jeremiah 7:16; 11-14 and 14:11) Now that’s a very scary thought.

The “politically correct” pastors are going to give soothing messages that are pleasant to the ears and provide an entertaining musical show that will keep his members returning for every service. Problem is, they’re being entertained right into the Lake of Fire. They have great flowery prayers that are worthless.

God does not want anyone to fail and be sent to eternal destruction and is standing by for any and all who call out to Him. (2 Peter 3:9) But the day will come when all the opportunities will end, and those who are not true believers will be in for the worst time this earth has ever seen, followed by an eternity they cannot even imagine.

True believers know this earth and our life here do not compare with eternity. They will talk to the Father and Son and know the Holy Spirit is within them and know they can talk to Him about any and all problems they feel they have. Also, they will be quick to praise the Father for good times as well. God knows how we feel under all circumstances, but wants us to talk to Him anyway. If we have accepted His Son, God has accepted us as well. He would never force us to accept Jesus if we choose not to. That would not be a real love, and our God is no phony. He also knows His children will slip and fall in sin occasionally as long as we’re on this side of Heaven. He is ready to forgive just for the asking (1 John 1:8-10), however will allow us to be disciplined for our actions.

So back to the beginning of this message. Not feeling like praying is no excuse. Happy or sad; elated or mad, He is ready to hear from us. Sometimes it may be nothing more than saying, “Please Help!”. You don’t need to go into long wordy language or any set speech. Just tell the Father what’s on your mind as if you’re face to face with Him – because you really are! As Jesus said, vain repetition is unnecessary.

Once you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and the Free Gift He gave us at Calvary, conversation with Him and the Father will get easier each time you talk to Him. Like with anything you get familiar with, you will become comfortable to tell Him anything. He listens and is willing to comfort and provide for you.

If you haven’t started your relationship yet, my advice is to not delay. The time is coming when Jesus will call His Church (true believers) home, and it’s rapidly approaching. It’s next and very likely very soon. Don’t be “Left Behind”. It will be faster than the blinking/twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). God is patient, but when He says it’s enough, it will be enough!

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

[email protected]

Back To Top