Do you recognize these 5 early warning signs of prayerlessness? Prayerlessness does not happen overnight; it creeps in over time like every other form of decay in nature. Its signs are subtle, and its symptoms are often undetected. However, certain indicators can help us identify prayerlessness in our lives.
In this post, I will share 5 early warning signs of prayerlessness. I have discovered these from my personal experiences and discussions with people who have experienced prayerlessness at one stage or another in their walk with God.
1- Abandoned Personal Prayer Time.
“Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” – Proverbs 8:34
Corporate prayers effectively ignite the flame of prayer because they promote spiritual development and increased knowledge of God. But we also need to incorporate that fire into our private prayer time. A precursor to prayerlessness is when you struggle or falter during personal prayer or quiet time with God.
2- Increased Self-reliance.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
When you go from “Lord, I need you” to “I can do it on my own,” it is a subtle sign of prayerlessness. When you rely more on yourself and less on God, you are on the path to self-reliance. The more you depend on yourself and your abilities, the farther you drift away from seeking God’s guidance and assistance. This shift towards self-reliance can lead to a sense of pride and arrogance, blinding you to the fact that you are not in control of everything. Ultimately, it is essential to regularly humble yourself before God and recognize that true strength and wisdom come from Him.
3- Decrease sense of gratitude.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
I want it now. I want It my own way. Mine. Mine. Mine. My way or the highway. Prayerlessness decreases our sense of gratitude and replaces it with a deep sense of entitlement. Time spent with God in prayers helps us surrender and align our desires and align our hearts with His will.
4- Increased Anxiety and Stress.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
In prayer, we express our needs to God and release our worries to him. When you pray less, anxiety grows. “Come to me, all you who toil and bear heavy burdens.” Worries, anxieties, and other heavy burdens that we aren’t meant to carry are dropped off at the altar. Not necessarily because they all disappear when we pray, but because, in the place of prayer, we exchange them all for peace. The peace that transcends it all; God’s peace.
5- Stunted Spiritual Growth.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The time we spend in our communion with God through prayer transforms us into the likeness of God. Prayer brings us into spiritual maturity. If your spiritual growth after accepting Christ has stagnated, you must devote more time to prayer.
Prayer is not just a means of communication with God; it is a powerful tool that helps us grow and develop spiritually. Through prayer, we align our hearts and minds with God’s will, allowing Him to work in us and transform us into His likeness.
Conclusion.
Neglecting to prioritize prayer in our daily routines and consistently making excuses to avoid it points toward prayerlessness. When we constantly find ourselves too busy or preoccupied to set aside time for prayer, it reveals our lack of importance on this vital spiritual discipline. Lastly, a diminishing faith and reliance on our abilities rather than seeking God’s intervention indicate prayerlessness.
Have you noticed any other signs that point to a lack of prayer? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I eagerly anticipate hearing from you.
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