Overcoming Obstacles to Prayer

“Pray continually…” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Charles Finney had his priorities straight and his focus upon God. He said, “I used to spend a great deal of time in prayer; sometimes, I thought, literally praying ‘without ceasing.’ I also found it very profitable and felt much inclined to hold frequent days of private fasting. On those days I would seek to be entirely alone with God, and would generally wander off into the woods, or get into the meeting house, or somewhere away entirely by myself.”

What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Can you pray while driving down the freeway at the maximum speed limit? Think of some strange places when you felt God’s grace? Why do we sometimes think that a certain setting, circumstance, or situation is required for God to hear us? Is that true?

What are the biggest obstacles to finding more time in your schedule to pray? How could you better prioritize your day, week, and month to make more time to offer praise to the Father? Consider making changes today.


Oh Father, forgive me for my busyness! Forgive me for setting time for communing with You aside with good intentions to make up for it later. If I pray continually, I will never be too busy to be aware of Your presence living in me and working through me. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to be fully engaged in this love relationship, and to soak in the grace-filled life of Christ.

Prayer Points
In your heart sing to the Lord, your strength and song; praise the one who has become your salvation. Give thanks that with joy you can draw water from the wells of salvation (Isa. 12:2-3). Confess that your worship is sometimes lacking because you don’t always remember the greatness of your salvation. Commit yourself to worshiping and singing with your whole heart; ask God to make you awake and alive to the power of his Word and the joy of music.

Pray for families with young children and teenagers, that the children may feel a sense of participation in worship this week and of belonging to the body of Christ.
