(A Check Up on Prayer)
Introduction – The Spiritual Health Exam
If you’ve ever gone in for a regular checkup, you know how it goes. The nurse checks your blood pressure, your pulse, your breathing, and maybe draws some blood. The idea isn’t that anything’s wrong — it’s simply wise to know how you’re doing before a crisis forces you to find out.
Today, I want to invite you to take a spiritual checkup — specifically, a check up on prayer.
It hasn’t been long, I’m sure, since you heard a sermon on prayer, or read something about prayer, or told yourself you need to improve your prayer life. And that’s good — because if there is any secret ingredient to success as a disciple of Christ, it’s this one.
But let’s ask an honest question: How are you doing?
How well do you understand the purpose, the operation, and the practice of prayer? We may pray before meals or in emergencies, but how often do we talk to God the way we talk to a trusted friend?
Prayer is one of the first spiritual lessons we ever learn. As children we bow our heads and whisper simple words: “God bless Mommy and Daddy.” But it’s also one of the deepest spiritual disciplines that still challenges the most mature believers.
It’s possible to grow up saying prayers but never really grow into prayer.
So, this morning, let’s give our hearts a checkup. Not to judge, not to feel guilty, but to renew the heartbeat of communion with God.
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What Is Prayer?
If someone asked you to define prayer, what would you say?
Some would answer, “Prayer is talking to God.” And that’s true, but it’s more than that — because prayer is not a monologue; it’s a dialogue. It’s not just our words sent up to heaven; it’s an exchange between our hearts and His.
When Peter wrote that “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer,” he meant exactly that — God listens. He’s not distant, not distracted, not multitasking while you’re pouring out your soul.
Prayer is not a solitary pursuit. You don’t really pray until you sense His presence. It’s conversation with a Person who is already near.
We find time for our friends. We carve out time to text, to talk, to catch up. Shouldn’t we also find time at God’s invitation to converse with Him?
Someone once said that one of the greatest complaints in marriage counseling is, “My spouse doesn’t listen to me.” Isn’t it beautiful, then, that the God of the universe never says that to us? He’s always listening.
Another way to think of prayer is as a wish turned heavenward — not wishful thinking or daydreaming, but the deliberate act of placing our burdens in the hands of the One who can do all things.
The Apostle Paul spoke of striving in prayer and laboring fervently — because righteous prayer isn’t casual. It’s not something that happens automatically. It requires focus, perseverance, even wrestling.
And Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, called prayer part of our spiritual armor — “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Prayer is the battleground where we conquer our own spirit and submit it to God.
If you’ve ever found prayer difficult, you’re in good company. Even Paul struggled. Even Jesus, in Gethsemane, prayed with sweat like drops of blood. True prayer often costs us something. But it is always worth it.
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The Purpose of Prayer
Prayer isn’t a way to get everything we want. It’s not Aladdin’s lamp that we rub to summon blessings on demand.
God isn’t a vending machine, and prayer isn’t a way to punch in a code and receive whatever we desire.
That’s the difference between magic and faith. Magic tries to control the supernatural; prayer learns to trust the supernatural.
Prayer’s greatest purpose is not to change God’s will but to align ours with His.
When Moses interceded for Israel and pleaded for mercy, yes — Scripture says the Lord relented from destroying them. But even that wasn’t a victory of human reasoning over divine decision; it was the heart of God inviting a human heart to share in His compassion.
In prayer, we begin to understand God’s heart — and when we do, our desires begin to change.
Prayer is not a sermon to God, nor is it a performance for people. Jesus warned us about praying to be seen by others. The most powerful prayers are those that make us forget anyone else is listening.
One of the most meaningful public prayers I ever heard was at a small prayer meeting. The man leading wasn’t eloquent. His grammar was simple. But he spoke as if he were standing right in front of God — quietly, sincerely, almost unaware of the rest of us. And that’s when I realized: prayer is not performance. It’s relationship.
When prayer is genuine, it turns our focus away from ourselves and toward God. It makes us partners with Him in His work.
Paul once said, “You help together by your prayers for us.” That’s what prayer does — it joins hearts across miles and ministries and makes us co-laborers with God Himself.
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The Consequences of Prayerlessness
Samuel once said to Israel, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.”
Think about that: prayerlessness is not just a missed opportunity — it’s a sin.
When we fail to pray, we deny God the relationship He desires with us. We rob ourselves of peace. We abandon the power we need for daily living.
No sermon should be preached, no lesson taught, no trip begun, no day lived without prayer. To neglect prayer is to risk spiritual failure before the day even starts.
It’s like heading out into a storm without your coat — unnecessary, foolish, and preventable.
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What Hinders Prayer?
If prayer is that essential, why do we so often find it difficult?
The primary reason is sin. When Adam sinned, his first instinct was to hide. When we have unconfessed sin in our hearts, we avoid prayer for the same reason — shame.
David said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
When prayer feels blocked, it’s wise to take a spiritual inventory. What attitude, action, or grudge might be standing between me and God?
John wrote, “Whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.” In other words, obedience clears the channel.
Another hindrance is unforgiveness.
Jesus taught that our own forgiveness is tied to how we forgive others. Right after giving the Lord’s Prayer, He said, “If you forgive others, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.”
Many of us would never think of stealing or lying or murder, but we’ll quietly carry a grudge — and wonder why our prayers feel dry.
God offers a gracious bargain: “Forgive the small offenses against you, and I will forgive the great offenses against Me.” Who could turn down that offer?
Faulty relationships in general can block prayer — especially with those closest to us. Peter told husbands to honor their wives “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” The same applies to any relationship: bitterness, pride, or disrespect at home makes it hard to reach heaven.
And then there’s pride.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride tells us we don’t need help, or that we’re doing fine on our own. And those who don’t see their need won’t ask.
Sometimes pride even disguises itself as humility — the kind that says, “Oh, I’m not worthy to pray.” But that’s still self-focused. True humility looks up and says, “Lord, I need You.”
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When and How Should We Pray?
Jesus said we ought always to pray and not lose heart. Paul said, “Pray without ceasing.”
They weren’t telling us to quit our jobs and spend life in a monastery. They meant we should live with a continual awareness of God’s presence — a readiness to speak with Him anytime, anywhere.
To “pray without ceasing” means prayer becomes like breathing: natural, constant, sustaining.
There are, however, moments that especially invite prayer.
Morning. Jesus rose early to pray before the day began. A few quiet moments with God can set the tone for everything that follows. Before you scroll your notifications, listen for His. Before you fill your day with noise, fill your heart with His peace.
Evening. At the end of the day, before sleep, prayer gives closure to the day’s story. It’s a way of handing over your unfinished business to the One who never sleeps.
Before decisions. Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples. If He needed prayer before major decisions, how much more do we?
During temptation. Jesus told His disciples, “Pray that you enter not into temptation.” If you ever feel a wave of anger or resentment, stop and pray. The very act of pausing to pray pulls you out of the current before it drags you downstream.
After blessings. The psalmist said, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.” Thanksgiving is the natural breath of the soul that has received grace. Gratitude is the oxygen of prayer.
Prayer shouldn’t be confined to emergencies. It should be the steady rhythm of our days — the constant turning of our hearts toward God.
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What Should We Pray For?
Some people struggle because they don’t know what to say in prayer. But Scripture gives us a rich variety of subjects.
We’re told to pray for others — for friends, for leaders, for those in need. Paul urged believers to pray for rulers so that “we may lead quiet and peaceable lives.”
That command reminds us that God is still active in national affairs. The most effective national defense isn’t just found in military strength; it’s found in righteous people who pray.
We’re even commanded to pray for our enemies. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”
That’s uniquely Christian. Anybody can love their friends. Only the Spirit of God enables us to love those who wrong us.
We’re to pray for the salvation of others. Paul wrote, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” When we begin praying for people by name, our hearts change toward them — and soon we find ourselves looking for opportunities to share Christ with them.
We can pray for the spiritual growth of others, as Paul did for the Philippians and Colossians. How different our churches would feel if we prayed as earnestly for each other’s faith as we do for each other’s health.
We can also pray for the sick — specifically and personally. Instead of general prayers for “the ill and the suffering,” name them, picture them, lift them one by one before the Lord.
And yes, we can pray for ourselves.
Jesus taught us to ask forgiveness — “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
We can ask for wisdom. James said, “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.” That’s not just Bible knowledge; it’s the daily insight we need to make godly decisions.
We can pray for daily bread — our needs, not our greed. Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread,” not “tomorrow’s abundance.” God promises sufficiency, not extravagance.
We can pray for protection from evil — “Deliver us from the evil one.” When we think about the future, we might fear disease, poverty, or aging — but Jesus told us the real danger is spiritual.
And while we may ask for material help, we must guard against selfishness. James warned, “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
The right kind of prayer asks for anything that helps us — or anyone else — participate in God’s redemptive work.
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The Benefits of Prayer
Prayer doesn’t just change circumstances. It changes us.
It draws us closer to God. Someone once compared it to pulling on an anchor stuck to the seabed — it feels like you’re pulling it in, but really, it’s drawing you closer.
When you pray, you may be lifting your needs to God, but at the same time He’s lifting you toward Himself.
Prayer also renews our sense of forgiveness. While feelings aren’t always reliable, prayer helps cleanse the conscience. Through prayer, God reminds us that we are forgiven, washed, and free to start fresh.
Prayer also restores perspective.
How often have you gone to God burdened by something that seemed enormous — and when you rose from prayer, it no longer looked so big?
When we look at our problems through a microscope, they fill our view. But prayer hands the microscope back to God and lets Him show us the big picture.
Prayer helps us remember what matters most. Bills, traffic, deadlines, repairs — all lose their sting when you see them against the backdrop of eternity.
I once heard someone say, “I’m too busy not to pray.” That’s wisdom. The busier you are, the more you need prayer — because prayer doesn’t take time from life; it gives time to life.
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A Modern Illustration – The Missed Call
We all carry phones that never stop ringing or pinging. Notifications, reminders, emails — everyone wants our attention.
What if, amid all those alerts, we imagined God sending one simple message: “Just wanted to talk.”
But how often do we swipe it away, thinking, “Later, Lord — I’m busy”?
Prayer is heaven’s call. And though we may ignore it, He keeps calling. Not because He needs information — but because He desires relationship.
The heart of prayer isn’t obligation; it’s invitation. God wants you.
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The Check Up Results
So, after this spiritual exam, how’s your prayer life?
Are you spiritually healthy, or have you been skipping your appointments with the Great Physician?
Do you pray only when trouble strikes, or do you cultivate prayer as a way of life?
Do you bring Him your wants, or do you also surrender your will?
Do you talk to Him, or do you also take time to listen?
It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction.
Prayer is learned not by theory but by practice. The more you pray, the more natural it becomes — like breathing, like walking with a friend.
Let’s renew our commitment today to daily prayer. Not just to ask for things, but to enjoy His presence. Not just to speak, but to listen.
Because prayer isn’t a duty; it’s a privilege — the doorway through which we enter the peace of God.
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Closing Reflection and Prayer
Would you bow your hearts with me as we close?
> Prayer:
Lord, thank You for inviting us to talk with You — not because we deserve to, but because You love us.
Forgive us for the times we’ve been too hurried, too distracted, or too proud to pray.
Teach us again the joy of simple conversation with You.
Help us to bring You our burdens, but even more, to bring You our hearts.
Renew our desire to pray for others — for our families, our leaders, our enemies, our church.
And when we don’t know what to say, remind us that Your Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Father, draw us nearer, that prayer may not be an occasional emergency, but the daily rhythm of our lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray,
Amen.
