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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7, ESV

We know God wants to hear from us. We know from experience that after we pray burdens become lighter, life becomes easier, and thoughts are purer.  Yet, despite knowing all the good that is going to come from prayer, it seems to be the one thing that can get pushed to the back corner and left out of our day. I cannot answer the question for you, but I can answer the question for me, and since we are all fallen humans, the reasons are most likely similar. 

Praying seems hard because I am praying to the Holy Creator, and I am not worthy.  I am sinful. He knows my every thought, my every movement, my every sin. I just don't feel worthy to talk to the One who can see clearly through my intentions.  So, basically, I am proud.  Prayer takes humility.  When I give something to God, I am relinquishing control.  What if God says no? What then?  I also worry about what to say or how to say it. Sometimes, my heart is just so grieved that I can't possibly talk to God about my troubles, or I just may not think my issues are important enough to bring to God.  

These reasons are EXACTLY why we SHOULD pray.  Because God is who He is, we need to communicate with Him. He IS the only One who has a clue about what is going on.  He alone has the answers.  We also need to pray to Him because this is how we learn to rely on Him.  We are not worthy of His presence in our lives, but Jesus' sacrifice on the cross fixed that.  We can come to the Father through the righteousness of Jesus.  When we become disciples of Jesus, God sees the righteousness of His son and not our shortcomings. Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  The Spirit of the living God helps us pray. 

 Prayer is hard because it takes time.  We are busy people.  Always on the go from work, school, sports, the store...  We make time for everything we consider critical to survival and important.  Sometimes, I think I can hold off on prayer because God knows what is going on anyway.  He doesn't need to hear from me.  This is true.  He doesn't NEED to hear from any of us, but He WANTS to hear from us. I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

Prayer is hard, but living without prayer is harder.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in  Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7). The Apostle Paul wrote these words during his first imprisonment in Rome.  He encourages us to pray in every situation and give thanks.  Prayer is where we find peace. Prayer is hard because it involves submission, sacrifice, and humility.  These are all attributes that we can grow in as we seek the will of God for our lives.