How to Pray When You Don’t Feel Like It

Every Christian has struggled to keep or be consistent with their prayer life. One of the reasons we sometimes don’t pray is that we don’t feel like praying. Some Christians struggle because they know they should pray but they don’t feel like praying. It is not so much because they know they should keep a routine or tradition but because they are in a relationship with their God. They know they need to pray for their spiritual growth because God commanded mankind to pray to Him. This struggle can be a good thing as it proves to the person that they are not totally in the flesh, and so they are in the proper state for a Christian. A Christian struggles with any sin because the flesh and the Spirit are at war within him. If a person is not a Christian, there is nothing at war within him because he is only in the flesh, with no Holy Spirit that dwells in Him. We struggle because, in the Spirit, we have a new heart that desires those things that children of God desire, while the flesh wants just the opposite. That is why we are all being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. God shall bring His work in us to complete so we will be like Jesus.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

[Galatians 5:17]

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

[Philippians 1:6]

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1 Thessalonians 5:23]

How do you pray when you’re lazy?

Sometimes we don’t feel like praying because we are too lazy to pray. There are a lot of reasons we can be uninspired to pray. One is that we’ve used our time and energy to do other things instead, and because of that, we don’t have the time or energy to pray. Sometimes, it is not a matter of energy and time but delight. We are not too lazy when it comes to doing other things because we delight in those things more than we do in praying. In this case, it is not just a matter of laziness but of idolatry.

There are certain truths that we should keep in mind. It’s essential to remember these biblical truths so that whenever we feel too lazy to pray, we can remind ourselves of these truths and not choose the things of the flesh over them. The first truth is that one fruit of the Spirit in our lives is self-control. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and is working in us. Because it is the Holy Spirit Who is in us and Who empowers us, we have the self-control to be disciplined with our prayer life, and we don’t have to go along with our laziness. Another truth that we should meditate on is that though the flesh and the Spirit are at war in us, we are in the Spirit. That is why the Spirit dwells in us. The Bible also teaches us that we are no longer slaves to sin in Christ. No matter what laziness we feel when praying, we are not bound to it anymore. Now that we are in Christ, we have God’s grace; we can choose to renounce any ungodliness and pursue living a godly and upright life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

[Galatians 5:22-23]

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

[Romans 6:6]

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

[Romans 8:9]

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

[Galatians 5:1]

Every day, we need to put whatever is earthly in us to death, knowing that we have already been crucified with Christ. Just as the apostle Paul said, it is no longer us who live but Christ Who lives in us. The life that we live now, we live for Christ. That means that if we are crucified with Christ and live for Him, we will not be lazy when it comes to praying to Him. Our allegiance is toward Christ and no longer to ourselves or what we feel or don’t feel like doing.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

[Colossians 3:5]

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

[Galatians 2:20]

Sometimes, the issue is not laziness but being tired out because one’s schedule is hectic. For example, let’s say a single mom works two jobs and has to take care of her child at home. That single mom may be too tired and not have the time to pray anymore. That is a different case than with someone who does not have the time or energy to pray because they binge-watched TV all day. What we can do is manage our time wisely and re-order our priorities. We may have so many important things to do in our lives, but still, God is the most important thing of all, and everything in our lives should adjust to that. 

Here is an example of how you can pray concerning the struggles with the flesh that sometimes cause us to put off praying to God:

Heavenly Father, You are the God Who gives us grace and empowers us to do that which honors You. Thank You because You are the One Who causes us to will to work for Your good pleasure. Remind us always that we are not of the flesh anymore but of the Spirit, and You dwell in us so that we are already free from sin. Therefore, we are not bound by laziness, but instead, we can choose to do that which is holy by being diligent in our spiritual disciplines. By Your grace, I can exercise self-control and renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. I pray that I shall continue to grow in my intimacy with You, Father, and put You above everything else in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What do you do when you have no strength to pray?

There are also times when Christians do not feel like praying because of dismay or discouragement. A Christian may be going through tough times in his or her life that cause them to lose hope and become weary. Imagine a squad of soldiers who are about to go into battle, but when they discover that they are up against a brigade of enemy soldiers, they suddenly lose the will to fight. It is something like that. In those circumstances, there are some things a Christian can do to reignite his or her strength to pray. Such strength is given by God when we go to His Word. It is still God’s grace that works in us and helps us pray when we don’t have the strength to pray.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

[Psalm 119:105]

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

[Matthew 4:4]

One of the things that a Christian can do is remember the wondrous things God has done for him or her. No matter what circumstance a Christian may find themself in, that never changes the truth that God is faithful. If God has been faithful in the past, He is still faithful today and forever. Not only that, but the Bible also teaches us that the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, and His mercies are always new every morning. Besides remembering the testimonies that he or she has of God’s faithfulness, he or she can also go to the Bible and see how God is indeed a faithful God. One can look at how God made His promises come to pass and remember that God is faithful and that His love is steadfast. This does not mean that our problems will disappear; it only means that we can thrive even with discouraging circumstances. God is our refuge and our fortress.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

[Lamentations 3:22-23]

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

[Psalm 91:4]

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

[2 Thessalonians 3:3]

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

[Philippians 4:13]

Another thing to can keep in mind is that prayer is about communing with God. It is about spending time with your heavenly Father and pouring your heart out. Praying to God is not some oral exam where you should have certain things to say to God. It is okay if you don’t know what to say in your prayers. Even if you feel disoriented or lost because of your circumstances, that should not be a reason for you not to come before God. It is similar to having a close friend—sometimes we feel so down that we can only cry and not say anything to them. But in such moments, we get to see God, Who is with us and never leaves us in times of storm. Even if there are things we want to say to God, we can also be honest with Him without emotion if we feel disappointment, discouragement, etc. In the end, it is about coming before God in humility. Some of the good examples that we have found have come from the book of Psalms, where David sometimes cries out honestly to God.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

[2 Chronicles 20:12]

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

[Psalm 22:14-15]

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

[Psalm 18:6]

[Psalm 23]

Going back to God’s Word and clinging to God is what we need to do when we feel tired and weary. If we don’t go to God and His Word, where will we find strength? Our strength is found in Christ alone. One of the things that you can also do is apply the Scriptures that you read in prayer, provided you apply them correctly. For example, if you feel tired and weary, you can pray the verses from Isaiah 40:31 and Isaiah 40:28-29. This will also help you whenever you don’t know what words to say when praying to God.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

[Isaiah 40:28-29]

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

[Isaiah 40:31]

Here is how you can pray when you don’t know what to say or don’t have much strength for prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are the God Who strengthens me. Lord, You are faithful. No matter what circumstances I am going through right now, it does not change the truth that You are faithful. Great is Your faithfulness, whether in good times or bad times. Your steadfast love surrounds me and endures forever. Your mercies also never come to an end. You have been faithful to me since the beginning, and I know that You will always be faithful until the end. Thank You because I can still thrive through Christ, Who strengthens me no matter my hardships. Even if I feel weary and exhausted, You are the One who renews my strength. You give power to the faint, and to him who has no might, You increase their strength. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

[1 John 5:2-4]

Whenever we don’t feel like praying, we should remember that we pray to God not just because He commanded us to do so but because we are in a relationship with Him. In other words, we do it out of our love for God. If our motivation to pray is our love for God, then no matter what laziness or mood we feel, we will pray to God and not drag our feet from doing so. Because we delight in it, we delight in God. Loving God is not treating His commandments as burdensome but as something we delight in doing.