WHY IS PRAYER SO DIFFICULT?

One of the most difficult parts of being a born again believer in Jesus Christ, is prayer!  The Bible repeatedly tells us to pray.   The word "pray" appears 313 times in 306 verses in the King James Version.  Here are just a few examples:

Romans 12:12 - "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."

Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 - "Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Timothy 2:8 - "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

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

The problem I have with prayer, is that I don't know how to pray according to the will of God!  I do not know His will in most things!  Even Jesus prayed a prayer that obviously was not according to His Father's will; and, He prayed it three times (Mt. 26:39, 42, 44):

"And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.  And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words."

And if that were not bad enough, God's Word even teaches that we cannot pray without His help:

Romans 8:26-27 - "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit (Himself) maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

1 John 5:14-15 - "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us:  and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

Bottom line -  I will pray for those things I know are His will: 

Thanksgiving for all He has given me; and

Food for the hungry;

Clothing for the naked;

Comforting for those who are ill or in prison;

Protection from the "evil one"; and the

Salvation of the lost!