4 Lies That Keep Us from Praying + Truth to Set Us Free

Hello my lovelies! This year, God has been teaching me a lot about prayer. Today, I’m going to share 4 dangerous lies that I’ve believed about prayer…and the truths that can set us free.

Read on to discover 4 lies that keep us from praying.

1. I don’t have time to pray.

This is definitely one of the enemy’s favorite lies, and I have to admit that I struggle with it sometimes, too. The items on my to-do list seem to be shouting their urgency…surely God will understand if I get right to work and pray later.

But, when I choose work over worship, I am really saying that God is not at the top of my priority list. I’m betraying a lack of trust in God. After all, if I trust Him, then I will believe that He has given me exactly enough time to do everything He wants me to do today.

So, instead of diving into my never-ending list, I need to slow down. Catch my breath. Give God the firstfruits of my day in prayer.

And, when I do, I know that He will bless the work of my hands, too. He will give me the grace and strength I need.

Note: Whether your prayer time is in the morning, evening, or afternoon, choose a time that works for you and stick to it! You don’t have to do all your praying in the morning (maybe you’re a night owl), but always start your day with prayer. And practice talking with God throughout the day, too.

2. I’ve got everything under control.

Suggested Methods for Realizing that You Are NOT in Control:

1. Faint. Preferably in front of an admiring audience.
2. Make firm plans for anything longer than 4 weeks away (especially in 2020).
3. Catch the stomach flu (my least favourite).

Or, you could take the easy way and simply agree with Isaiah, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

In my teen years, I had some minor health issues. And, although they were not fun, they taught me a very important truth.

Each breath and every moment of good health is a gift from God. And my life is in His hands.

It’s easy to think that you’re in control when the sun shines, the stop light turns green, and your plans seem to be coming together perfectly.

But the truth is that we desperately God. Every hour. Every moment.

Without His grace, our lives would look very different. And we would get into far more sin than we do.

That’s why we need to pray.

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

C. S. Lewis

3. Prayer doesn’t really make a difference.

Although we may not dare to speak the words aloud, this lie may be lurking at the edge of our consciousness.

Now, God does answer, “No,” to some prayers. I am so thankful that God did not say, “Yes,” to all my half-baked, short-sighted prayers. He always had something better in store.

But the believing prayer of an obedient child of God will always make a difference. Consider these Bible characters and the impact of their prayers…

Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still so he could finish the battle. The sun stood still for a whole day while God gave Israel the victory (Joshua 10).

Hezekiah prayed for deliverance, and the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 soldiers without a single arrow or sword. The rest of the army fled home (2 Kings 19).

Hannah prayed for a son, who became a priest that anointed Israel’s first two kings (1 Samuel 1).

Early Christians prayed that Peter would be released from prison, and an angel set him free that very night (Acts 12).

Does prayer really make a difference? God answers in James 5:16, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

In my own life, I’ve seen God provide jobs, heal sickness, provide time off for Bible camp, and save souls in answer to prayer. It always grows my faith when I see God’s amazing answers to prayer!

Keep praying, friends! You may be just a few prayers away from the answer of a lifetime.

4. I’m not ____________enough.

Fill in the blank…you’re not good enough, wise enough, cute enough, or you don’t have enough faith.

But does God answer prayers based on what we deserve? Does He give out gold stars to some students and rubber erasers to others?

No. Absolutely not!

God operates on grace, not works.

God doesn’t answer your prayers because you’re good enough. He answers them because you’re His child and you asked.

#Truth

Of course, we have to make sure that we don’t have unconfessed sin that is blocking our prayers.

But, if we are walking in obedience and asking in His will, God WILL hear and answer our prayers.

And that, my friends, is pure grace. It’s something we don’t deserve.

Read More: 8 Secrets to Answered Prayer from the Bible

Let’s Chat:

Have you believed any of these lies that keep us from praying? Do you feel like you’re too busy to pray, or that your prayers aren’t good enough to be answered? Maybe you feel like you’ve got everything under control. Or maybe you wonder if prayer really makes a big difference. Let me encourage you–it absolutely does! But have you believed any of these lies before? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!