I FIND IT HARD TO PRAY

MANY PEOPLE DO AND YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

How many times have you heard someone say this:
   "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak".
Now people use this as an excuse for all sorts of situations
and none more so than connected with praying.

"I just can't seem to get out of bed in the morning because I am so tired".

"If only I had more time I could pray more!" etc
The actual fact of the matter is this: "The spirit may be willing but the flesh is not weak but very much alive, strong and in control."
Why is this so?

There are many reasons but in this paper we'll look at four main ones:

1. Praying is hard if you're not saved

2. Praying is hard if you're saved and deceived

3. Praying is hard if you're saved but filling your life up with garbage   

4. How to start praying again

"But God forbid that l should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and l unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)

   1. PRAYING IS HARD IF YOU'RE NOT SAVED

Many people are praying to God but it's as if the cable is broken or something. There are many religious people - good people who do their best who seem to be very diligent with praying but God doesn't seem to hear. Now why do you suppose that would be so?

The King James Bible has something to say: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)


All very simple! If you haven't called on the name of the Lord and received Him as Saviour (that's Jesus Christ), you're not saved. The above verses say that if you're not saved, you don't have access to the Father who is in heaven. No matter how hard you try by fasting and deprivation, you have no chance of the Father hearing you if you haven't received, honoured, believed and trusted totally in Jesus for salvation.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

There are many religious people who believe in God, go to church, try to keep the Ten Commandments, live for God, do their best, try to be good people, got baptized as a baby, love their neighbours as themselves, are church members and take holy communion .... and do you know what? God can't hear their prayers, no matter how long and hard they pray! Put it this way - they get baptized, join a church live a good, moral life AND BURN FOREVER IN HELL.

Martin Luther, the Great Reformer, was in this category before he was saved... before God showed him that the just shall live by faith alone in Christ alone.

You see many people are praying to God - why there must be over a billion Roman Catholics worldwide and God won't listen to their prayers. Why? THEY'RE NOT SAVED!
Was Mother Teresa saved? NO. She was trusting in her works to impress God and get her into heaven. Why would she not spend money (and she had millions in the bank) on the poor suffering wretches in her care? ANSWER: She believed that their suffering here on earth helped purge them of their sins and so be more acceptable to God by being more internally pure in His eyes! What an abomination!

2. PRAYING IS HARD IF YOU'RE SAVED BUT DECEIVED

3. AND FILLING YOUR LIFE UP WITH GARBAGE

This comes as quite a shock to Christians who believe that Christians can't be deceived. If you have this view as well, it probably means that you are deceived.
Let me prove it to you that you may be in deception and have
error in your life.

   
"PEOPLE WHO FIND IT HARD TO PRAY" CHECK LIST. Can you find yourself in any of the following?

Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
(1 Corinthians 5:6)


  You like the modern versions of the Bible.

  You believe the radio's music and the movies are alright.

  You like the world's fashions- hairdo's, clothes & nose rings.

  You go to a church with women pastors.

You go to a charismatic or Pentecostal church.

You believe in joining together with other  churches.

  You believe the King James Bible has errors.

  You believe baptism in the Spirit happens after being saved.

  You believe we should get back to the Ten Commandments.

  You believe in the Azuza Street revival. 

  You liked the Pensacola and Toronto happenings.

  You believe you must be healed as a Christian.

  You desire the power as spoken of in the Bible.

  You believe in signs and wonders are for today.

  You desire 'pentecostal' experiences and the gifts.

  You desire daily blessings in the Lord.

  You believe that tithing is taught in the New Testament.

  You don't believe that doctrine is important.

  You believe in evolution or theistic evolution.

  You believe you have to be baptized to be saved.

  You believe you can lose your salvation.

  You don't believe in the rapture of the church.

  You believe everlasting punishment is wrong.

  You believe in the Bristish-Israel theory.

  You believe babaies should be baptized to be saved.

  You believe in the World Council of Churches.

  You believe Catholics are Christians.

  You involve yourself in Promise Keepers.

  You believe the Alpha Course is Bible based.

  You believe in Inter-Faith church services.

  You believe Billy Graham preaches the gospel.

  You believe in the unity of the churches.

  You believe Hinn, Meyer, Dobson, Peck, Copeland.

  You believe Christians should be prosperous.

  You believe that Christians should be healthy.

  You believe that Christians can do Martial  Arts, and have Homeopathy, Acupuncture or Yoga.

  You read plenty of books on psychology.

  You believe in the Meyen Briggs Personality Test.

  You don't believe in the resurrection of the church.

  You believe Christians should love themselves more.

  You believe in Christian Psychology & counseling.

  You believe in The Four Temperaments teaching.

  You believe in the church offering Stress Management.

  You believe in Healing of Memories.

  You liked "Boundaries" by Cloud & Townsend.

  You believe we shouldn't judge others.

  You believe homosexuality is a disease.

  You believe in learning to love yourself more.

  You believe God is love not wrath.

  You believe churches should find out what people want.

  You believe Pastors should share more rather than preach.

  You believe in the acceptance of evolution.

  You believe that there should be less emphasis on doctrine.

  You believe self-esteem is an important part of the Gospel.

  You believe in infant baptism.

  You believe churches should attract people to services.

  You believe toleration of all religious views is important.

  You believe fellowship is more important than doctrine.

  You like the term "partner" instead of spouse.

  You believe that dating is alright.

  You believe that Pastors should preach to needs.

  You believe in preaching on Issues rather than Bible.

  You believe there is Christian Rock music.

  You believe that Calvinism is Scriptural.

  You believe Freemasons can be Christians and vice - versa.

  You believe Amway is alright in a church.

How did you go?

Tick any?

If you did you're under deception and that makes it all that much harder when you pray to God. Sort of like spiritual cholesterol, the prayers are finding it hard to get through because the "vessel" is all clogged up and needs major surgery.


4 . START PRAYING AGAIN


 
BACK TO THE CROSS!
Start reading the King James Bible and stop praying all those "heal me, bless me, feed me" prayers that concentrate on self and your desires and needs. Start praying for God's will to be done and the glory of Christ's soon return for His church.

The victory that Christ won over Satan came about through His willing submission to the father's will:
"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)

When we follow that same path, then His triumph is ours.

This way of victory confounds not only Satan but also sincere Christians who mistakenly believe that God's purpose has been frustrated and the church defeated, if we do not take over the world and set up His kingdom.

It is beyond our comprehension that the wounds inflicted in murderous hatred by thorns, lash, nails and spear drew forth the blood that saves those who believe that Christ died for their sins.
It is this path that we are to take if we are to be Christ's disciples.

Contrary to popular thinking, this way of the cross and the denial of the self to know the resurrection life is the way of inexpressible joy.

The victory is best stated: "They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11).

God has revealed to victorious Christians the cross and this has left its indelible stamp on their lives. Overwhelmed by the staggering realisation that the Creator of the universe would become man in order to bear the full weight of the eternal judgment that they deserved, they gladly confess that they no longer belong to self but to the Lord Jesus Christ who purchased them with His blood.

They are then freed from the inner criminal and their own self-centred anxieties that blinded them to the joy of surrender. Their lives are not their own, for they now belong to Jesus Christ totally and forever. He has given them eternal life and they will never perish. "But God forbid that l should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and l unto the world." (Galatians 6:14)

By Harley Hitchcock


www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com


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