Even If You Don’t Pray Today, You’re Still God’s Child
Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.
Psalms 109:26
Sometimes, our hearts feel heavy, and words fail us. There are days when we don’t know what to pray or even find the strength to approach God.
Have you ever struggled to pray?
This week I was sick and I realized that it was so difficult to be still and pray. I sought distractions and found myself in a place of anxiety instead of peaceful rest in the loving arms of God. I still spoke to God but at the end of the day, I felt the enemy attempt to put shame, guilt, and condemnation on me for not intentionally sitting in the secret place with Jesus.
It was then that I heard a still small voice tell me, “Even if you do not pray today, you are still my child.” I was undone. The Lord so sweetly reminded me that I did not have to pray in order to be righteous. Because of the sacrifice that Jesus did on the cross for my sins, I am already clean. I never have to worry about not praying or reading the Bible enough. Nothing I ever do could separate me from the goodness of God’s love.
Quickly, I reminded myself of what I already knew. There is no condemnation in Jesus. I rebuked the devil and took my place as a beloved child of God. If you know me, you’ll know that I went full force into intercessory mode. I broke off any agreements I had made and replaced them with the truth of my identity in Jesus.
God draws near when we are weak.
The enemy loves to grab us when we are weak. He loves to make us feel shame when we are at our lowest point. Whether it is physical illness or mental stress, the devil will seek any opportunity to tear you away from God. If we don’t read the Word, pray, go to church, or spend time in fellowship, Satan will tell us that God is angry, filling us with condemnation. He wants to make it about the Christian “to-do list” that will satisfy us only when we check tasks off the box. Yet God does not want us to strive or earn His love.
It is in our weakness that God draws nearer to us. He delights in coming close. He is never frustrated with you when you are faraway from Him. His love is abounding, permeating every season, circumstance, country, or role you are in. He will never stop pursuing you because He never grows weary of loving us. Even in those moments of silence, remember this truth: you are still God’s beloved child.
As children of God, we can rest in the assurance that His love does not depend on our actions. Whether our prayers are many or few, spoken or unspoken, He knows our hearts and is always ready to meet us where we are.
Prayer is relationship with God.
Jesus wants a relationship with us. That is all that prayer is. It is commune with the living God who is also our Dad. In order to maintain a relationship with anyone, it requires frequent communication and a desire to know that person. Well, Jesus is the person we are seeking to know in a deeper way. That is why He has created prayer for us. The fact that we have access to the Creator of the universe through prayer should encourage us to seek His face every day, not because we have to but because we get to.
Our flesh may fail but the Spirit is willing.
Unfortunately, because we live in our flesh, although our spirit may want to commune with God, we are not always going to feel like praying. We can get sick, distracted, busy, or choose other relationships and tasks above seeking Jesus. We neglect His Word and wonder why we feel far away. However, I want to affirm you that it is okay and you are still loved. The beautiful part about all of this is that it is not up to us. It is through grace by faith that we are saved so there is never any striving (Ephesians 2:8-9). God will always pour His love on us no matter what we do or do not do.
And guess what? We are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us and guide on our journey of faith. When we feel weak, overwhelmed, or lost, this verse reminds us to call upon the Holy Spirit for help. He is our advocate, ready to step in when we don’t have the words. He will help us to fight against the enemy’s schemes. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, even when we are silent, offering comfort and strength in our weakest moments.
Even if today is one of those days where prayer seems difficult, God’s love is near—unchanging, ever-present, and faithful. Reach out to Him and ask the Spirit to save you according to God’s unfailing love.
Remember who you are.
You are a child of God. You are His beloved in whom He is well pleased not because of anything you have done but because of the blood of Jesus that washes you clean and makes you spotless. Ingrain that identity in your heart and mind. You already have the victory in Christ.
When the enemy comes, wash yourself with the Word of God and speak against his lies. You have authority as a child of God to dismantle the lies from the enemy and renew your mind. Do not sit in shame but instead use the voice that God has given you to speak His identity over yourself.
My love note for you.
You do not have to do things “right” in order to receive God’s love. Sin can never steal your identity as a child of God. You will always be loved by God no matter what you do or do not do.
So, if you find yourself unable to pray today, remember: God is still your Father, and His love for you remains steadfast. Let the Holy Spirit guide and uplift you, trusting that His grace is sufficient for you, always.
Walk in the fullness of the purpose God has for you!
If you are experiencing difficulties in your spiritual life, I would love to walk with you are empower you to walk confidently in your purpose. Hop on a free 30-minute coaching discovery call today!