How to Overcome the Sabotages to Prayer and Praise
Monday evening I went to visit Mom at the assisted living. I have been very regular to go two evenings a week and always leave with the laundry list of things she wants me to bring the next time. This time her list was even longer and she had wanted me to go back out to get it right away. Her lists consist of a stockpile of groceries to hide in her room and eat between meals. Her stockpile wasn’t empty; but, she still wanted now. I knew it would take at least an extra hour. I was very tired, so I told her next time. Thinking all is well; I headed home. At 11 pm I got a call from the facility. Your mother insisted that we call the ambulance and send her to the ER because she says she has been coughing and has chest pain. (Mom doesn’t have heart disease and since I had been down this road before when she lived with me—I rolled over and waited for the second call.) Besides as a Nurse Practitioner, I knew the EMTs, nurses and doctors would take care of her. They would call me if needed. The second call came at 2 am. “Your mother is ready to be taken back to the assisted living.” Frustrated, tired and angry with Mom for being so manipulating; off I went to get her and take her to back to the facility. I made it home at 4 and sat down to pray. As I tried to tell God of my frustration with Mom’s selfish behavior, the conviction of my own selfishness hit me. I protested. God sat quietly. I made excuses for myself. God waited and listened. “25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11 NIV). So, finally prayer came. Then, I wrote yesterday’s post and all was well. So, I thought.
[bctt tweet=”The Greatest Sabotage to our prayer lurks deep within our own heart: Pride, self exaltation…”] We try to deny its presence. We pour over scripture. We pretend it is gone. We “pride ourselves for being merciful and kind.” Still, there it is- pride!
THE GREATEST SABOTAGE TO PRAYER IS…
The deepest root sabotage to our prayer life is pride; whether we admit it or not. “I am too busy to sit 30 minutes alone with God” is just that-pride. My other things are more important than talking to God is. Prayer is a time where we open our hearts to God. All of our heart, the dark areas that yet remain as well as those areas of brilliant light. As we sit in His presence, the light of His Glory shines down deep into our hearts and exposes the areas of selfishness, the areas of pride, and those areas which yet need to be transformed.
FACING THE TRUTH
So, I had made it partway there. God’s grace gave me the words to write yesterday; yet, when I finished a computer glitch frustrated me. I had to rush off to work where interruptions continued to prevent my completing any of the other tasks I had there. Back to home, where finally I shut the door to the world and once more fell to my knees. Something was still wrong—deep within. I needed God to open my heart just a little wider to see how magnificent His Grace is toward me. The tears of repentance fell. Then came the sweetest fragrance, love filled me with songs of joy and praise.
OUR ONLY HOPE OF VICTORY
It was June 29th, that I began this 30 day prayer challenge with you. I had called it the 30 day challenge to empower success and guarantee victory. Every part of this challenge I have been right there with you. Drawing aside a time to be alone with God. Our only hope of victory in this battle against our own pride, anger, and selfishness is there on our knees. We cannot succeed with anything else until we come face to face with God who places us face to face with our own sin. Then, He covers it with His grace.
HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE SABOTAGES TO PRAYER?
How do we overcome the sabotages to prayer? By sitting quietly before God, opening His word, and letting Him reveal the emotions in our own heart that are hindering our prayer life. In other words. [bctt tweet=”How do we overcome the sabotages to prayer? We Pray.”]
We don’t need to wait until we have overcome the frailties in our own hearts before we come to God. I must come to God Just As I Am, I come wounded.
Have you ever had to come face to face with your own heart so that you can come face to face to God. I would love to hear from you. You can comment by clicking here.
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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