The Question
I received an email recently from a man from South Africa. This gentleman had read the article, "Do You Know Why It's Hard to Trust in Jesus?" and asked me how he could "come back" to Jesus. He felt as though something was holding him back from pursuing Christ.I was grateful for the question, because his experience is one I think many of us--if not all of us--can relate to. I know I certainly can.
Sometimes we just do not feel very close to the Lord. We want to pray, but find ourselves unable to do so. Even after coming off a day of good prayer and closeness to God, we may find ourselves feeling distant from God, even the next day.
The starting point for building a good relationship with God is to actually start a relationship with God. Scripture is clear that Jesus does not "know" everybody. He knows us all in the sense that he is all-knowing (there is no fact about us that God does not know), but he does not have a relationship with all of us. Jesus knows only those who are his "sheep"--who have repented of their sin and trust Him as Shepherd, Lord and Savior. So my response to the question didn't presume that this man already had that kind of relationship with Jesus Christ. However, that kind of "distance" from God is not a feeling that is unique to unbelievers only. Believers feel it too sometimes. So my hope is that both believers and those who have not yet been saved can benefit from my response to the question.
Without any further commentary, this is how I responded.
The Response
First of all, you're right to pray. Because Jesus is in Heaven now, we can't speak to Him physically. But we can speak to Him in prayer. And when we pray, the Holy Spirit helps us say the right words--even when they won't come to us naturally (Romans 8:26). So, whether you feel like praying or not, set aside time each day to pray to the Lord, in Jesus' name.When you don't feel like praying, when you feel like something is holding you back--that's when you must call on the Lord Jesus with all your might! "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13).
There could be various things holding you back from praying with all your might.
Unconfessed sin. Pray that the Lord searches your heart and shows you sins that you have not confessed and repented of. Tell the Lord your sorrow over that sin, and commit to abandoning those sinful practices. If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
The Devil's interference. Pray that the Lord would wage war for you against Satan and his demons. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you victory, to focus your mind toward God, and to not allow the Devil to interfere with your prayerful attitude. The best way to wrestle against Satan is by memorizing and quoting Scripture. I encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10-20 and pray on the Armor of God.
Something you value more than God. Ask yourself--what is there in your life that you are looking to for satisfaction, other than the Lord? As the Lord to give you enjoyment in Him. In Christ are "pleasures evermore" that far surpass anything this world has to offer (Psalm 16:11).
Simply a lack of focus. I encourage you to increase your focus on the Lord by reading something to put you in a prayerful mood. A good resource is Charles Spurgeon's daily devotionals, "Morning and Evening." Read one of these a day before you pray, and see if that helps to direct your mind and spirit toward Heaven and God's throne. You can find them free, online, here:http://www.spurgeon.org/medit.htm
I too struggle with daily prayer. But what the Lord is showing me is this: there is no more enjoyable way to live life than living it with Jesus.
Do you know Jesus? Are you saved? Have you repented (turned from) your life of sin and trusted fully in Jesus Christ to save you from the penalty of your sins? God's word says the payment for sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). Everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is born again--made into a new creation (John 3:1-21). Trust in Jesus for your salvation. Embrace Him as your Lord and best friend. And ask Him to renew your heart and to direct your spirit toward Him every day.
The kind of relationship with God you are seeking can only come as a result of His grace. We cannot earn it, but we can ask Him for it, and we can put effort into building that relationship.
God bless you as you pursue Christ!
In His service,
Joel Settecase
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Joel Settecase is the Associate Pastor of Youth and Evangelism at Grace Pointe Plainfield, located at 143rd St. and Route 30 (behind Family Video). Sunday worship service starts at 9AM, and you are invited to join us! Email Joel at jsettecase@gracepointe.us.
