When Prayer Becomes Distasteful

I realize the title of this article will be objectionable to the “Spiritually Elite.” Those who make a “pretense” in prayer, whose long prayers come from “feigned” lips. Who desire to be seen always on top of the spiritual heap, so to speak. But the common Christian knows better. We ordinary folks recognize prayer is not always a bed of roses; at times, because of the thorns in our way, it can be very difficult. Listen to Job when things got grim, “If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.”

Nevertheless, during those tough times we need to heed the words of the gospel song, “When you don’t feel like praying, pray.” When we do not want to pray we need to pray all the more. Spurgeon said, “When you can pray, and long to pray, why then you will pray; but when you cannot pray, and do not wish to pray, why then you must pray, or evil will come of it.” He goes on to say, “He is on the brink of ruin who forgets the mercy-seat.”

Prayer is the breath of the child of God’s spiritual life. When it ceases, we die, and are left only with an outward dry and crusty shell, the inside empty of any life. You can be assured, lifeless Christians are prayerless Christians! A great misnomer is, “Prayer Changes Things.” This little cliché is not always true, but it is a fact that prayer changes us. How many times has one entered their prayer closet a dead man or woman and came out a living, vibrant, fire-brand?

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken ...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost... And ... great power... and great grace was upon them all.”

Richard D. Sandlin