A Woman's Call to Prayer :: Chapter 3

Chapter 3 ::  Ten Reason Women Don't Pray-Part 2

Prayer is one way God has provided

for us to commune with Him,

and when we accept His invitation

to commune with Him,

He will transform our hearts

and change our lives.

You and I must desire to pray, decide to pursue it, determine to keep at it and, of course, do it!

4) Distance-- If you know people well, you can usually talk easily with them.  But you probably have difficulty talking to a stranger.  And the same thing happens in our communication with God. When you and I don't have a close enough relationship with God, we find it hard to "talk" to Him.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8

What are some of things that can create distance in our bond with God?  Here are a few answers: Neglect. Bitterness. Laziness. Procrastination.  Sin. Distractions. Pride. I'm sure you could add to this list.

5) Ignorance--We don't understand or grasp God's goodness or His desire and ability to provide for us "exceedingly abundantly" (Ephesians 3:20) and to "supply all our need" (Philippians 4:19) Therefore, we don't ask or pray. 

What man is there among you who, if his son asks

for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for

a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, 

being 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

God is good. And God is a giving God.  but God also wants us to ask Him,  In the words of Charles Spurgeon, famed preacher-of-old, "Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom."

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss.

James 4:3

Ask, and it will be given to you...for everyone who asks receive.

Matthew 7:7-8

6) Sinfulness-- Oh, dear friend, we simply cannot forfeit our ability and our opportunity to pray for ourselves, our family and friends, and those in need because we are too proud or stubborn to deal with sin.  Too much is at stake--and at risk-- to hold on to secret or favorite sins.  Keep short accounts with God when it comes to sin.  And what is the best way to treat sin?  I've often been advised to deal with any sin as it comes up-- on the spot! At the exact minute that I slip up and fail!

Checklist for Prayer 

~Examine your relationship with God

Number One excuses you are allowing to keep you from prayer.

neglect    bitterness

laziness    procrastination

sin    distractions

pride    other reasons

 ~Write our verses to memorize--
Begin with Jeremiah 33:3, James 4:3, Matthew 7:7-8.

Write the verses on cards,

Write them out ten times, and

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

By having your verses on cards, you are seeing them.  By writing them out ten times with pen and paper, you are touching them.  And by writing them "on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3)-- by saying them over and over--you are internalizing them until they become yours.

~Search your heart for sin

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart....Search me, O God and know my heart...and see if there is any wicked way in me.

Psalm 26:2 and 139:23-24

...to guard against distance, stay close to God,

...to guard against ignorance, stay close to God's Word so you have a better understanding of how you should be praying, and 

... to guard against sinfulness, stay close to God by pursuing a godly life.

pg. 32-40