by Marcile Crandall

“It's not the product, it's the process!” This was the comment of one of our sons-in-law as he was plowing some new ground in the field of religious art. But this is an important reminder for all of us as we learn to pray. The goal of our praying is not the product, but the process—the process of becoming humble before God, of being persistent in our asking, of confidently bringing our requests to God. I believe this whole process is used by God to mold us into disciples who will glorify him. In addition, praying often brings desired change into situations and relationships.a

But what are the real reasons I pray? Just asking the question has helped me evaluate my prayer life. I asked myself whether I'm praying just out of habit, or because the practice of prayer continues to be useful and worthwhile. Here's my list, in no set order:

1. I pray to offer my worship to the LORD. Over and over Scripture directs us to offer praise and worship to God. This intentional practice helps me remember the proper order of my world and the worthiness of the LORD I have chosen.

2. I pray because I appreciate the community I experience in prayer. My own small group of pray-ers catches a glimpse of the compassion of God and becomes the “little church” in action, lifting burdens to God on behalf of others.

3. I pray as a way of acknowledging my weakness and inability to do what needs to be done. To accept Christ's invitation to cast all my burdens on him is such a relief.

4. I pray because I find an intimacy with God as I pray. Often in the secret place of prayer I can express my heart's need to God and allow him to know me in deep ways. I feel safe.

5. I pray because I have a foundation of lifelong trust in the goodness of God. When doubts, feelings of inadequacy, or simply apathy are large in my thinking, I know God is faithful, even if I am not.

6. I pray because it is a way I can accept the gracious invitation of God to come into his presence.

7. I pray to acknowledge my own humanity to God. This reminds me I am finite and cannot handle life on my own.

8. I pray because prayer is my chosen way to move toward God when I feel estranged from him or depressed. That conscious choice to pray is often a first step in moving out of myself and back into relationship with God.

9. I pray because I want to make prayer a constant part of my life. I'm trying to form the habit of praying without ceasing. I yearn to be in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. I desire to live life on two levels: working, talking, and going about my business, all the while in constant communion on a deeper level with the Spirit of Christ, as Thomas Kelly writes about in his book A Testament of Devotion.

10. I pray because I need help and because often I simply do not know what to do.

Throughout my life, experience has given me the confidence and understanding to be bold in the way of prayer. One of the blessings of growing older as a follower of Christ is being able to look back on a multitude of touch points where we have experienced the faithfulness of Christ. Those experiences give us confidence to be bold in coming to God in prayer.

Hindrances to Prayer

As I have practiced prayer and have experienced the power and blessing of prayer, I've also recognized there are many difficulties that keep me from praying as readily as I'd like. Here's my honest list of hindrances that I'm sure are shared by other believers:

1. I tend to be impatient and want quick answers to my prayers. It's the process, remember? Many times the work of prayer takes so much concentration and persistence that I become restless or disheartened, tempted to give up.

2. I don't understand why God chooses to heal some people and not others. This may trip up more pray-ers than any other factor. All of us who have practiced the discipline of prayer have faced the reality that sometimes our prayer for healing has not been answered—at least in the way we had hoped. At this point, a part of our discipline must be learning to affirm that God is good all the time, and that God is sovereign. I can't understand this but must learn that it's true. Sometimes I think I know what needs to be accomplished and exactly what God's answer should be. Times like this are when I need to say, “Nevertheless…I wait upon you, God.”

3. Sometimes my praying seems dull and unfocused. I have heard some old saints describe this condition as praying “with skies of brass”—especially when this dullness goes on for a while without much response from within. This “plodding praying” becomes an act of total obedience to Christ and is very difficult for me.

4. Some circumstances drain me so completely of emotional and physical strength that I feel unable to pray at all. At times like this when my own resources are gone, I need the community of faith to surround me and lift prayers to God on my behalf.

5. Sometimes the busyness of life squeezes out time for prayer. Prayer is work. I need to give intentional time and space to the discipline of prayer. And it takes time for me to center my spirit before Christ, and real effort to gather my thoughts and focus them in prayer.

6. Sometimes my thoughts are so scattered that I feel unable to concentrate in prayer.

7. It's tough to maintain faith as I pray for salvation or a change of situation for someone I love. I believe these are the times when I must pray, “LORD, I believe. Help my unbelief.” This is another time when sisters and brothers in Christ must come alongside and offer their strong faith to help carry mine.

8. I fear that my prayers may sometimes bring answers I won't like. The answer that comes may be a leading to go or do something I would rather not do.

9. Often the scope of my prayer is so great that I feel unworthy to bring the subject to God. Thankfully, God's answer to my prayer is not dependant upon my own level of confidence but upon the mighty goodness of God. One of the wonderful mysteries of prayer is God's delight to hear me, his child.

10. I need to pray in God's will, but how do I know God's will? There are some times when I'll never know for sure what the will of our sovereign God is. Yet I believe the Holy Spirit will teach me and will guide me as I honestly seek to know truth.

Prayer is communication. There will always be difficulties as we learn to communicate better in this practice of prayer, but the more we pray, the more comfortable and enjoyable the experience becomes.