Have you ever felt overwhelmed in your prayer life? I think a lot of us do, but it’s easy to get discouraged and feel alone. It’s very true that prayer can be overwhelming, but it’s also true that there are things we can do about it.

Perhaps you can relate to these thoughts about prayer which have come from my own life and from conversations I’ve had with other people.

*I have a family, a job, and other commitments. It’s hard to find extra time to pray and read the Bible.
*It’s hard to concentrate and I can’t focus when I try to pray.
*I don’t know what to say or how to go about praying the right way.
*There are so many needs. I don’t know how to pray over them all.
*I feel guilty if I spend any time praying for my own needs. Other prayer needs are more important and need all of my attention.
*It’s really hard to let go and let God have control. It involves so much waiting that sometimes I run ahead of God.

Do any of these statements describe something you have struggled with? If so, you are not alone. I truly think that most women (and men, too) will find certain aspects of prayer to be difficult. Perhaps even everything about prayer is hard for you and that is OK. Believe me, there are many women around you that are also feeling the same way.

If you are feeling overwhelmed in your prayer life, here are some things that might help you.

1. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Comparison is a thief. We look around us, compare ourselves to what we think someone else is like, and let the negative self-talk take over. And then, unfortunately, we believe lies about ourselves. We have an enemy that wants it that way because he knows the power of prayer. He will go to no uncertain lengths to stop it and the first place of attack is right inside our own minds. We should remember that everyone is struggling with something, many times the very same things we struggle with. We’re not alone and we should remind ourselves of that.

Comparison is the thief of joy. -Theodore Roosevelt.Click To Tweet

2. Let go of any unrealistic expectations.

This actually helps in all areas of life, especially if you struggle with perfectionism. It is very easy to set goals that are unrealistic. You may be putting too much pressure on yourself. Consider this in your own life and see if you are feeling defeated because you are inwardly beating yourself up for not doing a better job at prayer. This is negative self-talk and it does not come from God.

3. Start with small steps.

We are a society of fixers. And we want it fixed now. But improving our prayer lives takes time.  Give yourself permission to move slowly by taking small steps. Remind yourself that the process is more important than a quick fix. Choose one area of difficulty and focus on what you can do inside that small space. Don’t focus on the rest until you have worked through the area you have picked out. Small steps take time but are often the best way to get somewhere.

Small steps take time but are often the best way to get somewhere.Click To Tweet

4. Try a prayer plan.

It’s true. Sometimes it just helps to have a plan. If you have a plan or a format for moving through the different steps of prayer, it will help you in many ways. Having a plan gives you a framework that can help keep you on track. A plan can also help you identify your trouble spots. There are many different prayer methods and plans available and you can find them through your church or online. If you are looking for a plan, you might want to take a look at the RESTORED Quiet Time Notebook. It’s an 8 step method to walk you through several important aspects of prayer. It is designed to help you create an intentional and effective quiet time habit. You can read more about it HERE.

5. Employ prayer strategies.

There are so many different strategies that can help in taking those small steps to a more intentional prayer time. I’ll be sharing several over the next few weeks here on the blog and I hope you can come back to read about them. Each week I’ll discuss a specific prayer strategy you can use that will help you pray boldly and with intention. We’ll also be talking about some things that hinder us in our prayer lives. I’ll be making printables and Bible verse cards so be sure to check back!

6. God will equip you!

God calls all of us to pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18)  He has given each of us different abilities and gifts. Our prayer lives will look different, our voices completely unique. But as Christians, one thing we can be sure of is that no matter what form or fashion they take, because of His power which lives in us, the prayers we say make a difference. Remember, God will equip you for all He has called you to do. He will equip you in your prayer life, too.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

The  prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)

Remember, God will equip you for all He has called you to do. He will equip you in your prayer life, too.Click To Tweet

When prayer is hard and you feel overwhelmed, remember these 6 things and remember the verses below to fill your mind with truth!

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. (Psalm 142:3 NKJV) 

For I, the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41: 13 NKJV)

I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5 NIV)

“Come to Me, all you 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 NKJV)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV)

Blessings!  
Leslie

Focus Verses
If you click on the verse references for any of the verses listed in this article, you will be taken to Bible Gateway where you will find free resources for further study.

Let’s Talk
Where have you felt overwhelmed in your prayer life? Have you found any strategies that help you in these areas?

Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for the gift of prayer. It’s a place where we can come to listen to You and talk to You, but sometimes it’s hard to feel confident and there are concepts we don’t understand. Open our minds and hearts, Lord, to your truths. Show us how to defeat the lies of the enemy so that we will be able to move forward in our prayer lives which leads to a deeper relationship with You. We want that, Lord, and ask that you would do whatever it takes to get us there. In Jesus name, Amen.

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