{"id":1638,"date":"2017-06-12T12:05:56","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T12:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigfinnestad.com\/?p=1638"},"modified":"2017-06-12T17:06:14","modified_gmt":"2017-06-12T17:06:14","slug":"10-ways-make-prayer-life-pathetic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigfinnestad.com\/?p=1638","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Make Your Prayer Life More Pathetic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten Ways to Make Your Prayer Life Even More Pathetic<\/strong><\/p>\n

So your prayer life is bad? Join the club. Most people I talk to are not where they want to be. Here are ten ways to make this part of your relationship with God even worse.<\/p>\n

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  1. Don\u2019t be intentional and disciplined.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Pray whenever you get around to it. Specific times aren\u2019t necessary and habits are overrated. Don\u2019t find spaces where you connect with God. Any old place will do. Leave your phone notifications on too. The more distractions the better!<\/p>\n

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    1. Don\u2019t practice gratitude.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Focus intently on envy and comparison. Grow awareness of what you lack. Take for granted what you have. Do discontentment. Complain frequently.<\/p>\n

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      1. Don\u2019t confess a darn thing.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        God already knows anyway, right? So you are wasting your time and God\u2019s too. Being vulnerable isn\u2019t as cool as Brene Brown thinks it is. You are already keenly aware of who you are, who God is, and who you can become. So no further discovery is necessary on your part.<\/p>\n

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        1. Don\u2019t intercede for others.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          It\u2019s really not that cool of an experience. You aren\u2019t going to change God\u2019s mind anyway.<\/p>\n

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          1. Don\u2019t run to God like an excited child goes to a loving parent. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Consider prayer just another duty. Think of God as a stern taskmaster. Grind through the motions. Pray only during emergencies or when you have some major problems.<\/p>\n

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            1. Don\u2019t seek forgiveness.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              You made your bed. Lie in it. Carry around guilt and resentment. Live under the law and not grace.<\/p>\n

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              1. Don\u2019t pray the tough prayers.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Jesus said, \u201cPray for your enemies.\u201d Don\u2019t listen to Him. The concept of revenge is a lot more fun. Jesus also said something like, \u201cNot my will, but yours be done.\u201d Don\u2019t worry about that one either. You have gotten yourself this far, why change pilots now?<\/p>\n

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                1. Don\u2019t keep things simple. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Make your prayers complex. Use words you normally don\u2019t use. Beseech, thou, thee, forsake, and thy are a good start. Continue with sanctify, atonement, omnipresent.<\/p>\n

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                  1. Don\u2019t go deep<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Keep things on the surface. It\u2019s safe there. Discovering God\u2019s heart is for monks and nuns, anyway. Plus, going deep takes a lot of work.<\/p>\n

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                    1. Don\u2019t listen to God.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Keep the conversation one way. Don\u2019t read your Bible. Don\u2019t practice patience. Just give God a list of what you want and return to your everyday activities.<\/p>\n

                      Danish philosopher, S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard, wrote, \u201cThe function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather change the nature of the one who prays.\u201d In prayer, God meets you where you are and leads you down roads of wholeness, wellness, and worship to a destination of faithfulness, fruitfulness, and fulfillment. Who wants to visit those places when you can remain in the lands of anxiety, boredom, and despair?<\/p>\n

                      What would you add to my list?<\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      \"\"

                      Benjamin and David in Stavanger, Norway. The name of the building translates to “Finnestad Prayer House”<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Ten Ways to Make Your Prayer Life Even More Pathetic So your prayer life is bad? Join the club. Most people I talk to are not where they want to be. Here are ten ways to make this part of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[174,73],"tags":[175,95,77,145,76,176],"class_list":["post-1638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prayer","category-spiritual-formation","tag-confession","tag-forgiveness","tag-gratitude","tag-listening","tag-prayer","tag-simplicity"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n