Prayer can sometimes be one of the toughest things to do, because sometimes we just don't

feel like it. We're too tired, too busy, and honestly, there's just so many other things to do. One
big obstacle to overcome when praying is having the strength to overcome the temptation to put
off prayer. Prayer should be one of the most important parts of our day because in it we connect
ourselves to God, our source of strength. Without God, we can't do anything. So, we need to do
everything we can to combat our unwillingness to pray.

1. Think of the Enemy

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

One reason why you need to pray right now is because there is a battle going on right
now. Your friends and family are being targeted. You are being targeted. The Bible
teaches that our enemy is not flesh and blood, which means we don't have an enemy
that we can physically see. We fight against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness,
hosts of wickedness. Specifically, our fight is against demons. So, if you're a Christian,
you need to wake up and see the world around you. Souls are going to hell as we speak.
Demons are plotting your ruin, your destruction. They're observing you lying in wait,
seeking to strip you of your power and effectiveness. And their plans don't stop there. To
your unsaved friends, they seek their company in hell's flames. Demons don't want you
to pray, because if you pray you will connect yourself to God Almighty and that will mess
up their evil plans. God answers prayer, and by connecting yourself to God, you will be
strong for the battle today. So, when you feel unmotivated to pray, think of the enemy
and open your eyes to see what's at stake here.

2. Think of your need

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast
love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul
waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we
trust in his holy name.

Psalm 33:18-21

The world is a battleground with real casualties and we can be seriously hurt. We need
God's deliverance. We need Him. He is our help, our shield, and our source for life. John
5 says that apart from God we can do nothing. So, any strength you have, any energy
you possess, any knowledge you own, all of it came from God. In this crazy world full of
corruption, hatred, bitterness, perversion and wickedness. We need God to lead us, to
protect us, to teach us through this chaos, and see us through these battles. So don't
just pray because you think you need to and because you're a good Christian. Let your
motivation for prayer be because you actually need it.
 3. Think of God's Heart

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

I think one of the biggest reasons why we don't want to pray is because we fail to see
who God is. God is not some impersonal God way up in the sky so far from us.
Sometimes we look at all the rules we have to follow and we can see God as boring. But
the reason why He gives us those rules is to protect us. The key to prayer is looking at
God's heart. So, are you tired? Are you emotionally spent, exhausted, burned out? Look
at how Jesus welcomes us with open arms. And what does Jesus offer when we reach
such a low place? He offers rest. And why does He offer rest? Look at Jesus' heart in
this passage, He says, "For I am gentle and lowly in heart." The God of the universe
says, "Yes, I'm powerful. Yes, I'm in control." But He also says, "I'm gentle and I'm
lowering Myself so I can give rest for your weary soul." So if you're unmotivated to pray,
forget about the fact that you have to in order to be a good Christian. Look at Jesus'
death on the cross. Look at His open arms. Look at His grace, His patience, His mercy,
His forgiveness, His salvation. Look at His heart for you. His heart is gently, His heart is
lowly, and His heart is to give you rest and to pour into you love and life.

How Do You Pray?

1. Be Genuine When You Pray

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He said to them in Matthew 6:5-6, "And
when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in
the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say
to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut
the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret
will reward you." When we pray, we don't do it so we can look Holy in front of others.
Jesus said to go into your room in secret. Prayer should be one on one time with God
and God alone. Jesus prayed and spent time with God the Father because He loved
Him. And when you truly love someone, I think you'd want to spend some alone time
with them, just you and them appreciating each other's company. And that's what God
wants with us.

Jesus continues on His answer in Matthew 6:7, "And when you pray, do not heap up
empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many
words." In other words, Jesus us saying don't just let your mouth ramble. We're talking to
God. So we need to be mindful of the words that we say. So when we pray before lunch
and say, "God thank You for this food." Are we actually thanking God or is it an empty
phrase? So when we talk to God, He wants us to be meaningful with our words. So don't
just pray, "God, please bless us today. Keep us safe. Help me with school. Bless this
 food. Amen." Don't just say things because they're holy things to say. You're talking to
God, so be thoughtful, be genuine.

2. Be Lowly When You Pray

Jesus continues in His answer, and He says in Matthew 6:9-10, "Pray then like this: Our
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven." Many times, we can make prayer all about us and what we
want. "God, please bless me. Bless my food. Help me at school. Help me at work. Help
me with my test. Help me win this game. Keep me safe." Now, does Gpd wants to bless
us? Absolutely. His heart is to give and to love. But asking for things is not how we begin
prayer. After we put ourselves in a place of sincerity and honesty, the next thing we do is
to make ourselves low and submit ourselves to God.

Look how this prayer begins, "Our Father in heaven." It begins with intimacy. He is our
Father. And then in continues with positioning. He is our Father, and we are His children.
He is in heaven. We are on earth. "Hollowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." So prayer is not about getting what you want.
It's all about God. Even Jesus when He knew He was going to die on the cross, He was
depressed at His feet. But He prayed, "Not My will be done, but Your will."

So, after we come to God in genuine love, the next step is to approach Him in humility.
His ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts, and His will is
better than our will. So, as you pray, make yourself low. Bow down before Him. He is
God above; we are man below. He is King. We are servants. He is good. We are
sinners. "Your will be done, not my own."

3. Be Reliant When You Pray

Jesus concludes this prayer in Matthew 6:11-13 and it says, "Give us this day our daily
bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Yes, God is our King that we serve, but He is
also merciful and full of grace. And He wants to bless us and give us things that we
need.

"Give us this day our daily bread." So what are your needs for today? If you need food to
eat, money for rent, comfort for your heart, energy for the day, go to God.

It says, "Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors." So is your heart filled with
shame and guilt? Go to God for forgiveness, mercy and compassion. And if it's hard
forgiving others, ask God for help for you to come to a place of forgiveness.

And finally, it says, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We're
spiritually weak. We get tempted and our desire for what's wrong can lead us down a
very dark path. So, ask God for help, for strength. You don't know what the day holds.
So go to God with your physical needs, your emotional needs, and your spiritual needs.
Learn to be reliant.