‘I wish I prayed more.’  Have you thought this to yourself or heard it said by a fellow Christian? The truth is that cultivating a consistent, focused, and heartfelt prayer life can be a struggle. And yet, we all know prayer is foundational to our walk with God.

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When it comes to prayer, there’s often a disconnect between our intentions and actions. So, what are some of the main hurdles we face as would-be prayer warriors? Let me mention three common hurdles and then offer some biblical and practical advice to help us overcome them.

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‘Not enough time’ 

For many of us, squeezing in another to-do seems hard. Whether you’re a busy mother, respected church leader, or a single working professional like myself, we all fill our days with various tasks and hobbies. 

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In the Bible, however, we find many examples of people who actively prioritised prayer. One of them was Daniel. His practice of daily prayer helped him stand against an idolatrous culture (Daniel 6:10-18). 

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If you struggle to prioritise prayer, consider these two strategies. First, ‘hook’ prayer onto an existing habit – and the more instinctive the habit, the better. For example, if you can’t leave the house without brushing your teeth, pray right before you uncap the toothpaste tube. Second, embrace in-between times as prayer opportunities. In line to get a blood test? Pray. Early for your train? Pray. Waiting for a parking spot? Pray. Short prayers are okay because God is pleased even by the shortest, simplest prayers we say behind closed doors (Matthew 6:6-7).

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‘I don’t know how’

Another obstacle can be a feeling that we lack prayer skills. We all know at least one Christian brother or sister who seems to weave together eloquent, heartfelt prayers at the drop of a hat. In comparison, it’s easy to become self-conscious about our own disjointed, half-baked prayers. 

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But, as with many aspects of our faith, growth comes through disciplined and determined practice – the Christian walk doesn’t demand first-time perfection. It’s no surprise that there are several passages which shows us that prayer can take many forms. One of them describes Hannah praying out of her brokenness and anguish to the extent people thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1:10-18). Whatever our prayer 'technique' – or lack thereof – the Spirit can make sense of our jumbled thoughts and words (Romans 8:26).

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Meanwhile, here are three tips to help tackle our feelings of inadequacy. First, pray from the Bible. Whether it’s a two-word verse like ‘pray continually’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17) or a whole psalm, embrace Scripture as a launching pad into prayer. Second, couple creativity with discipline. I’ve heard people tying their prayers to days of the week – mission Monday, thankfulness Tuesday, etc. Or use the PRAY acronym to Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield – like Jesus himself did (Luke 11:2-11). Third, if you dread praying in public, practise by praying aloud by yourself or sharing one-line prayers with a small group of trusted Christians. Who knows, God may well use your stumbling, yet sincere, prayers to encourage others.

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‘It doesn’t seem effective’

A third barrier may be our own (mis)understandings about prayer. This includes the perennial question, why pray when our prayers seem to go unanswered?

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However, if we learn anything in the Bible, it’s that we worship a loving and faithful God who hears our prayers (1 John 5:14-15; 1 Peter 3:12). Importantly, God also knows what’s best for us even – or especially – when we don’t know ourselves (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

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So we should feel free to ask God for a desired outcome, such as a successful job application or healing for a loved one. But we must then have the humility and wisdom to leave it in God’s hands. After all, we can trust God to discern which good gifts will help us walk more faithfully with him (Matthew 7:7-11). 

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On this point, here are two practices which may be valuable. First, start your prayer times by identifying requests God has already answered. Has God given you more patience with an elderly parent? Or perhaps an opportunity to encourage a colleague? Importantly, share this answered prayer with a prayer buddy or your mid-week Bible study group. 

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A second related suggestion is to keep a prayer record. Write down a summary of prayer requests on one side of the page, and then re-visit it during your daily prayer time to keep track of God’s response. Is it a ‘No’, ‘Not yet’, or a resounding ‘Yes’? Beside it, jot down the lessons - contentment, peace, or patience – which God may be teaching you through his answers. 

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Prayer is simple, but not always easy. Thankfully though, God meets each of us where we are. So let me encourage you to prioritise prayer today – no matter how busy, nervous, or doubtful you may be. Our heavenly Father is all ears!

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Working in media and journalism, Faith Tabalujan is a member of The Border Church that meets near Wodonga, Victoria.    faithxtabalujan@gmail.com