7 Roadblocks to Prayer

Declutter Your Time with the Lord

By Rebecca Shirey

Is our commitment to prayer strong enough to knock down the many roadblocks the enemy throws in front of us?

“Prayer can never be in excess,” said Charles Spurgeon, a 19th-century British minister and writer. Most of us agree with Spurgeon, yet we may struggle with various roadblocks to prayer. We understand that being still before the Lord requires disengaging from intrusions in order to concentrate on Him, but unwelcome thoughts often hijack our focus.

When we think about the Luke 10 account of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha, most of us aspire to be Mary, seated at the feet of Jesus and choosing the better way (v. 42). But too often we are Martha, “distracted by all the preparations” needing our attention (v. 40). Like this biblical example of distracted, we are pulled different ways at the same time by the busyness of life.

Our instant-results, fast-forward society also challenges our prayer lives. Joseph Parker, a London preacher, once complained, “I’m in a hurry but God isn’t!” We can identify with Parker—especially when we don’t get immediate answers to our prayers, and when waiting on God stretches on and on without the resolution we seek.

On the following pages, you’ll find advice from several people with longstanding commitments to prayer, and from my own experience, regarding overcoming roadblocks to prayer. Without exception, we all agree on the first essential—giving prayer priority.

Roadblock #1: Not Enough Time

We can pray anytime and anywhere. The Apostle Paul encourages us to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17). But a regular time of prayer encourages a lifestyle of prayer.

For 31 years Doug and Carla McMurray have risen every morning at 5:00 a.m. to pray for another Great Awakening in America. Your best time might not be 5:00 a.m. But determining your prime time can help you make prayer a regular part of your day.

King David indicated his best time: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you” (Ps. 63:1). As the King James Version renders this verse, the word earnestly can mean early—first thing in the morning or first in order of priority. Like David, many people of prayer choose to enjoy time with God before the day’s events crowd their schedule—before turning on the morning news, checking social media, reading the latest emails, or eating breakfast. God deserves first place. But if morning isn’t ideal for you, find a time when you can give God undivided attention. Since He neither slumbers nor sleeps, every moment of the day is like morning to Him.

When we block out time in our schedule, we are less apt to find an excuse to postpone our prayers or allow the disturbance of the moment to sabotage our time with God. One mother of young children says, “Nothing short of an ER visit bumps my appointment with the Lord. A consistent time to pray sets the tone for my day, my week, and ultimately my life.” But even more than an appointment to keep, prayer is a relationship to enjoy.

Roadblock #2: No Accountability

When Doug and Carla pray each morning, they pray one hour separately and then unite to pray for an additional hour together. Although they haven’t yet seen the Great Awakening they have been praying for, they remain faithful to their commitment to pray. From their experience the McMurrays suggest finding a prayer partner if you don’t already have one.

Although they pray separately for the first hour, being accountable to each other helps them stay faithful to their commitment to pray. A prayer partner doesn’t necessarily have to be a person you pray with regularly, but he or she can simply be someone who encourages you in prayer.

Roadblock #3: Lack of a Specific, Dedicated, Personal Place to Pray

Several years ago I visited a prayer room in a Modesto, CA, church. It was the boiler room of prayer for the church, complete with a sign over the door: The Furnace. The space was fueled by the Holy Spirit, filled with intercessors, and saturated with prayer. The atmosphere invited prayer because The Furnace was where prayer happened consistently. We can also cultivate an atmosphere of prayer in our homes. Having a consistent place to pray conditions us to spend time talking with God. Your spot might be a space in your bedroom, a chair in the corner of your family room, or a place at your kitchen table. Make the space welcoming. Keep a basket there—containing your Bible, a notebook, and a pen—as reminders to meet with God. After a while, entering your space will signal prayer.

My spot is a walk-in closet off my bedroom. It might not seem like the most comfortable place, but I don’t mind sitting on the floor. It’s separated from household responsibilities, and I’m less likely to be interrupted since reaching me requires opening three doors.

Because I’m a highly visual person, the darkened seclusion of my closet helps me more easily block out distractions. I can’t see the pillow to fluff or the picture to straighten. I’ve even learned to ignore the clutter of shoes on the floor. I turn on the light to read Scripture. I turn off the light to listen to God. The closet works for me. Experiment to discover the space that works for you, and go there day after day.

Roadblock #4: Unwelcome Distractions

Shutting the door means far more than closing those three doors along the path to my walk-in closet. It’s also about shutting the door to unwelcome intrusions clouding my thoughts and disturbing my peace. It’s about turning off social media and ignoring text messages or phone calls.

One intercessor said that the computer and the phone often infringed on her prayer time. Then one morning she sensed God say to her, “Whose voice do you crave most in the morning?” Now she refuses to engage with those technological intrusions until after her time with the Lord. Sometimes, though, no matter how much willpower I exert, I’m helpless to quiet my mind. At those times, I bring my distractions before the Lord. I yield to the Holy Spirit’s help. We are not alone when we pray. The Holy Spirit is right there with us, helping us in our weakness. The psalmist reminds us, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you” (Ps. 55:22).   Here are ways to keep us focused on the Lord while in our closet or quiet place:

Praying aloud. Research shows that the average person thinks in excess of 700 words per minute but only speaks 100–150 words per minute. Praying aloud helps stem the rush of anxious thoughts and allows for articulating one thought at a time.

Writing your prayers. Writing also helps slow your pace. And you can read back over your prayers later and gain encouragement from your growth and God’s answers.

Praying Scripture. Join with Jesus in praying the Psalms. They were His prayer book during His time on earth. Recognizing that I’m praying the same words as Jesus prayed helps calm my wandering thoughts. Praying Scripture aloud can be doubly effective. In addition to doing battle in the heavenlies, the sound of our prayers comes out of our mouth, goes in through our ears, and encourages our souls. Harnessing the to-do list. That list dominating your mind isn’t always the enemy trying to distract you. Sometimes it’s the Holy Spirit reminding you. Rather than becoming irritated, quickly write down what you need to remember, invite God into that event in your daily schedule, and then get back to prayer.

Naming your blessings. Gratitude can deter restlessness in prayer. A grateful heart keeps you focused on the Lord’s goodness—and there are plenty of ways to thank Him!

Roadblock #5: Interruptions from Children

For parents with younger children, an uninterrupted prayer time may seem impossible. One mom uses her children’s naptime as her quiet time. When they awaken early, she sits them next to her with a book until she finishes her time with the Lord. Another mom often has a two-year-old curled up in her lap as she prays.

Both mothers see these times as opportunities to model prayer for their children. One of the moms found each of her girls, on separate occasions, lying in her bed with a Bible and pen. They told her they were having their “God time,” just like her.   “That was all the encouragement I needed to make prayer a priority!” she says.

Roadblock #6: Disappointing Delays

In prayer, as in other areas of our spiritual journey, we experience God-purposed times of waiting. Waiting on God is not like the foot-tapping impatience we experience when we discover we’re once again in the slowest line in the grocery store.

Waiting on God is active, anticipating, and maturing. We wait with head erect and neck outstretched in expectation of the answer. This strengthens our confidence in the Lord and our assurance that He will indeed answer. And as we wait, we can rest in His goodness. We can recognize that He desires the very best for us and for those we love. We can understand that He is working behind the scenes to accomplish the greatest possible outcome.

One intercessor I know types out, laminates, and then places her longstanding prayer concerns on a key ring. Sometimes she reads each need, bringing them individually before the Lord. Other times she simply lifts the keychain heavenward, releasing the timing to Him. When we experience the disappointment of delay, we can ask God to renew our passion to pray. We can ask Him to grace us with His perspective. We can find rest in these words: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning” (Ps. 130:5–6, ESV).   Rest in Him during the waiting time.

Roadblock #7: Preconceived Ideas

Prayer isn’t a formula. We can be natural and at ease. A prayer pattern working for someone else might not be your most comfortable way of connecting with God. Allow God to be personal to you. Eliminate preconceived ideas about prayer and simply enjoy being with Him. Ask Him, “What do You have for me today?” He will lead you into a satisfying relationship with Him through prayer.

Matthew 6:6 communicates the essence of simplicity before Him. “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace” (MSG).

The Gospel of Mark records another account of peace and simplicity, although it certainly doesn’t start out that way. It’s the story of Jesus clearing the temple. Can you imagine the shock of the crowd when Jesus enters the temple grounds and begins overturning tables, driving out the money changers? Can you hear the commotion of people yelling, money clanging, doves flapping? Do you hear His announcement? “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17).

Once the offenders noisily clear out, imagine the scene again: do you hear the quiet now? Do you sense the peace?   Jesus can do the same for you. Invite Him to overturn the roadblocks, quiet the noise, and drive out the concerns cluttering your life. Ask Him to make your temple a house of prayer. And you’ll be able to say with Spurgeon, “Prayer can never be in excess.”

REBECCA SHIREY travels internationally as a speaker at conferences and retreats. She and her husband Lou also serve the denominational prayer ministry of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.