Question:
In the past four months I have prayed maybe 10 times. I seem to have this mental block when it comes to prayer. I just can't bring myself to do it, to talk to God. I'll sit there for like 20 min. thinking about praying but I can never bring myself to do it. I'm not exactly sure why this is. I think around 4 months ago there came a time where all my prayers seemed one-sided, like it was just me talking and God was not there. I feel like God hates me and has turned his back on me.
Also, around four months ago I started having frequent anxiety and panic attacks and I found myself fearing death all the time. For a while I hated going to sleep because it was usually every night before bed that I would get an anxiety attack.
I'm not sure if the two things are related. They may be, or they may be completely seperate. Any suggestions of things I should do?
Answer:
I'm not so sure about the anxiety, but there are a few things I can advise that you should do in terms of the prayer. Start out slow. You don't give someone who's been wandering in the desert for a few days a big gulp. Simply tell God you're thankful for what He's done (your salvation, just having a good day, anything you're thankful for) or how you miss Him in your life. Get back into the word also (assuming that's struggling as well).
Answer:
Originally Posted by Chris I'm not so sure about the anxiety, but there are a few things I can advise that you should do in terms of the prayer. Start out slow. You don't give someone who's been wandering in the desert for a few days a big gulp. Simply tell God you're thankful for what He's done (your salvation, just having a good day, anything you're thankful for) or how you miss Him in your life. Get back into the word also (assuming that's struggling as well).
Yep, the reading is struggling. I have somewhat of the same mental block towards the Bible. However, I love reading Christian books by other authors. About a year and a half ago I finished reading the entire New Testament (and some of the OT) by taking notes on and going through one chapter every single night. I kept it up for two years, reading and praying every night, but then I finished off on Revelations and I went looking for a new technique but I was never able to keep up with a steady devotional for more than two weeks.
Answer:
Your situation is eerily similar to mine. I love the intellectual study of Christianity, except somehow I've thought I could study the different facets of Christianity without the aid of the Bible itself. Instead, I'd neglected God's word in favor of apologetic studies or topical theological explorations. Even though I realized how ridiculous this was, I could not steer my attention from my other studies to focus on the Bible. I'm ashamed of this, and it bothers me that this has been a habit of mine.
The solution? Put your other books away. Hide them, lock them up, make them inconvenient or inaccessible. When you crave them, read the Bible instead. I'm in the same boat as you are, and this method only works effectively if you want it to. In the end, nothing can make you read the Bible. At some point, you have to have a desire to read it.
From there, it gets easier. Your faith will grow, you'll be more confident in your personal, day-to-day relationship with God, and hopefully you'll grow more comfortable with prayer in this manner.
Answer:
strange....i feel exactly like you but without the anxiety. i'm struggling with praying. i think about everything i want to pray about, but never get around to doing it. same with reading the Bible. I just can't seen to want to read it. i love reading christian books and listening to christian music but i can't seem to focus on God and the Bible....
Answer:
Wow. This waws happening to me for a while not too long ago. Somewhow, thoguh, I wa sable to keep up my prayer and eventually I felt again like God was there. Just try your best to pray and ask Him to give you a desire for Him and his word!
Answer:
i'm starting to get better. i've asked God to help me and He's been helping me a lot lately!
God Bless
~CussBus