If prayer has become difficult, begin with one honest sentence to God, choose a manageable daily time, and use a short Scripture passage to help you respond. You do not have to wait until you feel inspired or rebuild your entire routine in a day.
This guide offers eleven practical ways to overcome prayerlessness, with a small action and a suggested prayer for each. As an ordained minister since 1988, my ministry has included pastoring churches, evangelism, and marriage and family counseling. My aim here is to encourage a faithful return to prayer while taking people’s real responsibilities and struggles seriously.
Prayer is important to Christian life, but difficulty praying is not automatically evidence of weak faith. Start with the step that addresses your situation. The prayers below are original suggestions; Scripture quotations are identified separately and use the King James Version (KJV).
1. Begin with one honest sentence.
You do not have to recover an impressive prayer routine before you can speak to God. Start by naming what is true: you are distracted, disappointed, tired, or unsure how to begin. Honesty is a better starting place than pretending to feel spiritually strong.
Try this today: Tell God what has made prayer difficult today. Keep the first prayer as simple as you need.
A prayer to begin: Father, I am struggling to pray. Help me come honestly and begin again.
2. Identify what is getting in the way.
Prayerlessness describes a pattern of neglecting prayer, but the reasons behind that pattern differ. An overloaded schedule calls for a different response from unresolved guilt, grief, or disappointment. Avoid assuming that every difficult season means a person has stopped loving God.
Try this today: Write down your main obstacle in a few words. Choose one practical response rather than trying to change everything.
A prayer to begin: Lord, help me understand what is hindering me and respond with truth and wisdom.
3. Choose a small, repeatable time.
A brief time you can keep is a useful place to start. You might pray after breakfast, before beginning work, or before bed. The purpose is to make space for God, not to earn his approval by meeting a time quota.
Try this today: Choose a daily cue and begin with two or three minutes. Adjust the time to your responsibilities.
A prayer to begin: God, help me make a faithful place for prayer in the life I actually live.
4. Use Scripture to begin the conversation.
Read a short passage in context and respond to what it says. A psalm may help you express trust; a teaching of Jesus may lead you toward repentance or gratitude. You do not need to find a hidden personal message in every verse.
Try this today: Read Psalm 62:8, then name one concern you want to entrust to God.
A prayer to begin: Father, let your word guide my thoughts and help me respond sincerely.
5. Reduce one avoidable distraction.
Distraction is not always a sign of indifference. Phones, noise, unfinished tasks, and fatigue compete for attention. A modest change to your surroundings can help you return to prayer without demanding perfect silence.
Try this today: Put your phone out of reach or silence unnecessary notifications. Keep paper nearby to note a task and return to prayer.
A prayer to begin: Lord, help me give you my attention and gently return when my thoughts wander.
6. Make room for thanksgiving.
When prayer becomes only a list of unresolved problems, it can feel exhausting. Thanksgiving helps us notice God’s gifts alongside our needs. It does not require denying grief or calling painful events good.
Try this today: Name one specific gift from today. Thank God, and thank the person involved where appropriate.
A prayer to begin: Gracious God, help me notice your kindness without hiding the things that hurt.
7. Bring disappointment instead of hiding it.
An unanswered request may leave you wondering whether prayer matters. You can bring that disappointment to God. Persistence is not a technique for forcing your preferred outcome, and a delayed answer is not proof that your faith is inadequate.
Try this today: Describe one unanswered concern honestly. Ask for help with the waiting as well as the situation itself.
A prayer to begin: Lord, I do not understand this waiting. Sustain my trust and guide my next step.
8. Confess what needs changing and receive mercy.
If you are avoiding prayer because of something you have done, acknowledge it plainly. Confession is not a performance of shame. God’s forgiveness calls us toward repentance, including apologies or practical repair when we have harmed someone.
Try this today: Name the wrong without excusing it. Decide on one appropriate act of repentance.
A prayer to begin: Merciful Father, forgive me and help me turn from what is wrong. Give me courage to make things right.
9. Pray with someone you trust.
Prayer does not have to be a solitary struggle. A trusted Christian friend, pastor, or prayer group can offer encouragement. Choose someone who listens respectfully and will not shame you or pressure you to share private details.
Try this today: Ask a trusted person to pray with you briefly this week. Agree on a realistic time.
A prayer to begin: God, lead me toward supportive fellowship and help me receive encouragement.
10. Match your routine to your present capacity.
Illness, caregiving, grief, and exhaustion can change what a sustainable routine looks like. A short prayer while resting may be more realistic than a long session. If persistent distress is affecting daily life, pastoral support can accompany appropriate professional care.
Try this today: Choose a comfortable setting and a manageable length. Rest when needed; do not use exhaustion as a measure of devotion.
A prayer to begin: Father, meet me in my limitations and help me accept the care and support I need.
11. Return after a missed day without giving up.
Consistency grows through returning, not through maintaining a flawless record. Missing a day does not mean you must abandon the week or compensate with an exhausting prayer session. Review what interrupted you and take the next small step.
Try this today: Resume at your next opportunity. At the end of the week, notice what helped and adjust one thing.
A prayer to begin: Faithful God, help me return to you today and keep learning how to pray. Amen.
How to Break the Spirit of Prayerlessness.
Some Christians use the phrase “spirit of prayerlessness” to describe persistent resistance to prayer or a season of spiritual discouragement. The phrase alone does not establish the cause. Exhaustion, grief, distraction, disappointment, and deliberate neglect may each call for a different response.
Begin by bringing your struggle honestly to God. Confess any known sin, read a short passage of Scripture, and take one manageable step toward regular prayer. Ask a trusted pastor or Christian friend to pray with you. You do not need a special formula or an exhausting routine to begin again.
Use the eleven steps above to identify what is hindering you and build a sustainable habit. Prayer can accompany rest, practical support, and appropriate professional care when these are needed.
Four KJV passages for starting again.
These passages offer words of trust, thanksgiving, confession, and perseverance. Read the surrounding verses as well, and let the passage guide your response rather than treating it as a formula.
Psalm 62:8.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
1 Thessalonians 5:18.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 John 1:9.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 18:1.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
A simple seven-day prayer restart.
Use this as a flexible guide, not a test you can fail. Each day can take just a few minutes.
- Day 1: Tell God honestly why prayer has been difficult.
- Day 2: Read Psalm 62:8 and bring one concern.
- Day 3: Thank God for three specific gifts.
- Day 4: Confess one wrong response and take a step toward repair.
- Day 5: Pray for someone else and consider one kind action.
- Day 6: Bring an unanswered request and ask for patience and wisdom.
- Day 7: Reflect on what helped and choose a routine for the coming week.
For the reasons behind the habit, read Why Should We Pray Every Day? 9 Biblical Reasons. For biblical principles that shape how we pray, see How to Pray with Power and Authority. You can also follow our seven-day prayer guide for breakthrough and favor.
A prayer when you struggle to pray.
Father, I come with the attention and strength I have today. Help me be honest about what has drawn me away from prayer. Forgive what needs forgiving, comfort what is hurting, and guide what needs changing. Teach me to listen to your word, care for others, and return to you without pretending. Help me take one faithful step today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Frequently asked questions about prayerlessness.
What does prayerlessness mean?
It means an absence or neglect of prayer. It is useful to distinguish an ongoing pattern of avoidance from a temporary struggle caused by exhaustion, grief, or circumstances. Understanding the obstacle helps you respond wisely.
Is every struggle to pray a sign of weak faith?
No. Doubt or deliberate avoidance may be part of the picture, but so can distraction, pain, disappointment, or fatigue. An honest conversation with a trusted pastor can help you explore the cause without making assumptions.
What if I feel nothing when I pray?
You can pray honestly without a particular emotional experience. Read a short passage, bring a simple request, and avoid judging the value of the prayer only by how you feel immediately afterward.
Must I pray aloud or use a particular gift?
You can begin with silent prayer or spoken words. You do not need eloquent language or a particular spiritual gift to approach God. Use words you understand and can sincerely mean.
How long should I pray when restarting?
Begin with a few manageable minutes. There is no universal daily time requirement in these steps. Build a sustainable habit, and allow its length to change with your circumstances.
Begin where you are today.
Choose one step, not all eleven. Set aside a small amount of time, speak honestly, and let prayer lead to a faithful response. If the struggle continues, invite support. You do not have to work through it alone.
About the Author
Ordained Christian Minister Since 1988
Pastor David Small has served in Christian ministry for 38 years, preaching, teaching, and encouraging believers to grow in their relationship with God. His experience includes pastoral leadership, evangelism, biblical teaching, and helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges through faith and prayer.
Great and helpful