How to Start Praying Again After a Long Gap

Learning to pray again after having distanced yourself from prayer and God after a long gap need not be a chore if you learn to find joy in it. The whole point of prayer is to uplift you in body and spirit. That may be one reason why you had chosen to stay away from it for so long. If that is the case for you, then here are some words from the Bible and other sources to motivate you to return to God.

 

God does not deter us from returning to him after we’ve lost our way. In fact, he welcomes us like a father. The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most recognizable stories that point to God’s willingness to accept us back into his arms.

 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son and its Lesson

The story goes that a father had two sons, one of whom demands a share of his father’s wealth and strikes out on his own. He returns when he loses his fortune to famine and begins to suffer the pangs of penury.

 

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15: 17-24

 

Returning to God and prayer is, therefore about celebration.

 

“And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness,

And relenting of evil.” Joel 2:13

 

The Churches of man could turn you down but God will find ways to forgive you if you come back to him.

 

“Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” Matthew 27: 3-4

 

Do not limit yourself to prescribed forms of prayer. Prayer is your personal conversation with God. We recommend that you write your prayers down, address God in the first person, fully accepting his power, his mercy, and your faith. If unsure, ask a religious intercessor to pray on your behalf. Not only will the intercessor’s words flow more naturally, they will also carry more conviction. And what better way to say the Lord’s prayer than in the temples of the lands where Jesus grew up, preached his ministry, died and was crucified, and rose again on the third day.

 

Write a small draft and send your prayer to members of the Salvation Garden praying community. We will print your prayer in format and offer them to one of five holiest Christian churches in Israel. Visit the website today.