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I have been a disciple of Christ and Christian for a little over 30 years. Like many Christians, I have struggled to pray. Over the years I have experienced short and long lapses in my spiritual prayer life. Like me, you may have gone a few days, weeks, or much longer without praying. Maybe you have made attempts to restart praying or desire to restart your prayer life. How does a Christian restart prayer after struggling to pray? 

Here are five ways that can help us restart prayer after struggling to pray: 

  1. Yes, pray! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” 
  2. Be like Jesus and get alone with God. Remove yourself from distractions and get in a private place with God. Luke 5:1-6 “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Mark 1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”  

  3. Study the character, humility, and holiness of God to have a better understanding of His glory and why we desperately need Jesus and prayer. I highly recommend The Humility: The Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray.  

  4. Do a self-check. Is there an unconfessed sin in your life that is contributing to the struggle? Tell Him, ask Him for forgiveness and help. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

  5.  Get support! Ask a trusted brother or sister in Christ to pray for you and encourage you! Ecclesiastes 4:9- 10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!