30th October 2024

Sometimes it can be a real struggle to find the energy to pray, especially when we have a busy period at work; we are rushed off our feet looking after our children, or we are consumed with grief, anxiety, or just the hustle and bustle of life, and we can’t even remember what day of the week it is. What can we do if we are finding apathy in our relationship with God and in particular in our prayer life? When I’m struggling with praying and finding it difficult to summon up the energy to pray, I’ve found that reading scripture can be a great prompt and encouragement to pray.

One passage I’ve found helpful is the opening verses of Psalm 103. Right at the outset of this psalm, we are confronted with the question, ‘Who is David speaking to?’ Some psalms address God directly, and some address the nation and how they should respond to God, but here David says, ‘Let all that I am praise the Lord…’ – David is speaking to himself, exhorting himself to worship and praise God. 

Why does he need to tell himself what to do? Is it because he just doesn’t feel like it?  Most people think that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, but according to this psalm, it could just be the first sign of spiritual sanity: sometimes we need to give ourselves a good talking to in order to motivate ourselves to keep going. 

David’s key to this kind of motivation is to never forget the good things God does. Reminding ourselves of what we have in Christ through God’s great generosity, and counting the blessings he has given us, will help us to want to pray to God and to praise him with our whole being.

It is God who forgives our sins and heals our diseases. These are the blessings God gives us. In his gracious merciful love, he forgives our wrongdoings, and that is something we can praise God for. In his benevolent grace, he heals our diseases. Every time we have recovered from sickness the grace of God has been at work and is something we can thank him for. 

As I get older I am more aware of the fragility of my health, and the health of others. This has motivated me in my prayer life to give thanks for the health we have, to rejoice when those who are sick recover, and even when Christian loved ones have died to praise God for their lives, knowing that in Christ their sins are forgiven.    

Remembering these things helps me to pray when I don’t feel like it, and I hope they motivate you too.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church