The Sin of Prayerlessness

“In whom (Christ) we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him” (Ephesians 3:12 KJV). The death of Jesus destroyed the barrier between the Holiness of God and the sinful state of man. The curtain that separated mankind from the holy of holies was torn in two, declaring to the world that the price of sin had been paid in full (Matthew 27:51-52). On the cross, Jesus Christ stretched out His hand to the world and with the other, He grasped the throne room of heaven declaring, “It is finished.” Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ we now have direct access to the Father.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV).

The children of God have been given a rich inheritance. The greatest of all gifts is constant fellowship with God Himself. The God of the universe craves to spend time with each of us. It is a privilege that we often throw away in ignorance, or we neglect out of sheer indifference. Someone once said, “The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer.”

*The prayerless life

• is a sin against God (1 Samuel 12:23)
• is direct disobedience to the command of Christ (“watch and pray” – Matthew 26:41)
• is direct disobedience to the Word of God (“pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
•  makes me vulnerable to temptation (“watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” – Matthew 26:41).
• expresses independence –no need for God.
• gives place to the enemy and makes me vulnerable to his schemes (Ephesians 6:10-20; Daniel 10)
• results in powerlessness.
•  limits (and defines) my relationship with God.
•  hinders me from knowing His will, His priorities, His direction.
• forces me to operate in the realm of the natural (what I can do) versus the supernatural (what He can do).
• leaves me weak, harried, and hassled.
• is rooted in pride, self-sufficiency, laziness, and lack of discipline.
• reveals a lack of real burden and compassion for others.

     (*Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Place of Quiet Rest, page 233)

Do you desire to spend more time with God in prayer? If so, you might be wondering where to begin. In our next post we will be looking at what it means to prepare for the royal feast...