11 Causes Of Prayerlessness

I wrote this sermon for the Christmas season when everyone is so busy buying gifts that other priorities fall by the wayside.

The Word of God instructs us to pray without ceasing in 1 thes. 5:17, so we are to pray at all times.

Prayer is when we bring our petitions to God. He is our loving father and promises to supply all our needs. If we delight in Him, He promises to even give us the desires of our hearts.

Faith is the currency with which we receive those things we ask for from Him. Prayer is how we release that faith into His realm, that He might release His answers into ours.

Why then, would we ever stop praying to the God we love?

#1. We don't understand how. JESUS TOLD US HOW IN HIS WORD.

Matthew 6:9-13

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

#2. No faith. We don't pray because we really don't believe He will answer us, when His word clearly says He will.

"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins'" (Mark 11:22-25).

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

3. We get busy and our priorities get skewed. This, I believe, is one of the biggest reasons for prayerlessness.

My experience has been that if I put off praying my prayer list until later in the day, I seldom ever do it. One thing leads to another, and it just doesn’t get done. But on days when I put God first, and pray my prayer list like I believe He has told me to do, my day runs smoother, I get more done, and I know my day is far less likely to come unraveled.

4. We don’t understand how to pray. There is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer is talking to God, asking questions, making requests, and also telling Him you love Him, not for what He does, but for who He is.

5. We don’t hear God, so we feel stupid, like we’re talking to the air around us. This is a trick of the enemy to keep you from praying and STARTING to hear God. Don’t fall for it.

6. We’ve been sinning and we know it. Sin undermines our faith, that’s only one of many reasons why it is so dangerous to us.

7. God is more of an afterthought in your life, not the Lord of your life. If you see religion as just a set of rules to live your life by to foster good behavior and for fire insurance just in case God turns out to be real, you’re missing all the best God has for you. He IS real and just following the rules isn’t going to get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:22-24

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

If you want REAL assurance, not just fire insurance to just get you into heaven, take heed to this verse, because it’s the truth. Build your house and your LIFE on the Rock. If you don’t spend time getting to know the Lord PERSONALLY and for yourself, this is what you will hear Him say. That’s why He’s called a PERSONAL Lord and Savior.

8. We’re angry at God. Whatever reasons we might feel we have that give us a right to be angry at God, we need to drop them. If you think you have problems now, let God take His hand from your life and you’ll see what REAL problems look like.