Excuses for Not Praying

Transcript

EXCUSES FOR NOT PRAYING


SHARON RIEKENBERG
I. I Am Too Busy To Pray.
Mary and Martha - Luke 10:38-42
“Sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His Word is the one thing necessary in life.”
II. I Am Too Dry Spiritually To Pray.
(Should I wait to pray until I feel like it?)
Two presuppositions behind the excuse that I am too dry to pray.
1) The acceptability of my approach to God in prayer ought to be tied to how I feel.
2) My obligation to pray is less when I do not feel like praying.
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Luke 11:5-10
We are simply to trust and obey, which means we pray, even and especially when we don’t feel like it.
III. I Feel No Need To Pray.
“Self-confidence or self-assurance can breed prayerlessness.”
Example: Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12-21); (2 Chronicles 32:31)
Proverbs 16:1-3 Proverbs 21:1-2
“We need not think that the only sins that will keep us from prayer are large and gross. We so often fall at the subtle points.” D. A. Carson

IV. I Am Too Bitter To Pray.
Bitterness - Anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment.
Mark I 1:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.
Ps. 62:1 -2 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation. My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Eph. 4:31-32
More reasons:
1) Prayer is going to force me to eliminate sins that I cherish.
2) I will pray about this when I get my attitude straight.
V. I Am Too Ashamed to Pray.
Shame encourages us to hide from God. Gen. 3:7
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.
Hebrews 4:13 Psalm 32:5
VI. I Am Content With Mediocrity.
2 Timothy 2:15
James 4:2-3 James 4:7-10
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.