Editor's note: Today in the United States we're celebrating the National Day of Prayer! Take a break today and join your fellow Americans in praying! Enjoy today's devotion written for Devotionals Daily by Matthew West, author of Don’t Stop Praying.
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We live in a world that is loud and constantly demanding our attention. From morning to night, we face notifications, deadlines, and endless distractions. In all this noise, it’s easy to let our most important conversation—prayer—get crowded out. We intend to pray, but somehow the day slips away, and we find ourselves whispering a quick "Goodnight, God" before drifting off to sleep.
But what if prayer wasn't only a bookend to our day? What if it wasn’t just a last resort when all else fails?
Years ago, God used a camp experience to spark a deeper journey in my prayer life. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but that moment was the beginning of truly learning what James 4:8 means:
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
Prayer is the lifeline that tethers us to the Creator. It’s the breath of our soul. Yet, for many of us, prayer remains a struggle. We bump into obstacles that keep us from the intimacy with God that we crave. To reclaim the power of prayer in our lives, we need to identify and overcome those obstacles.
The Roadblocks to Connection
Let’s talk about the common things that can block our prayers. The Bible says,
pray continually — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
—which sounds amazing, but living it out is hard. Work, busyness, our will, our worries, and even shame easily get in the way.
We typically face three main prayer roadblocks:
Busyness and Noise: We often fill every silence with music, podcasts, or TV. Busyness becomes a badge of honor, but it can also distract us from the gentle work God wants to do in our hearts.
Self-Reliance: Society teaches us to be independent, to carry our own weight. But prayer begins with realizing we can’t do this without God. Bowing our heads is an admission that we need His help—and that’s exactly where He wants us.
Sin and Shame: Sometimes we avoid God because we feel unworthy. We think we need to clean up before we come Him. But the gospel teaches the opposite: we come to God just as we are, trusting Him to transform us.
Prayer as a Spiritual Weapon
Prayer isn’t only a habit or a ritual —it is a weapon. Paul writes in Ephesians 6,
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. — Ephesians 6:18
Prayer is how we wear our armor, stay connected to God, and fight for the things that matter. Whether you’re struggling in your marriage, burdened for a loved one, or battling a stubborn habit, prayer enlists God’s power in your fight.
Exodus 14:14 encourages us –
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Prayer isn’t waving a white flag; it’s joining the battle alongside the God who’s already won the victory. Every time we pray or worship instead of panic or worry, we remind the enemy that we belong to Jesus.
Praying for the Impossible
Prayer shifts our view from our limits to God’s limitless power. We’re called to pray for things that are beyond hope—to believe for the impossible, no matter the situation.
Jesus told His followers:
Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. — Mark 11:23
So, what is your mountain? Have you been praying for someone or a certain situation for years, but are yet to see an answer? Don’t stop praying. We pray because God hears us. We pray because He still heals, provides, breaks chains, and moves in ways we can’t even imagine.
When I wrote the song “Don’t Stop Praying,” it was during a season of unanswered prayers and exhaustion. One morning, I reached for my Bible and read these words,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6
That verse revived my desire to pray. It reminded me that even when we feel worn out, God hasn’t stopped listening.
Practical Ways to Incorporate Prayer
How do we move from just knowing about prayer to actually praying—especially when life is hectic?
Steal Quiet Moments: On busy days, I look for small pockets of time—a commute, a break—to turn off distractions and talk to God. Try adding prayer to moments you’d usually fill with media. Choose three points in your day to turn off the noise and speak to God.
Pray with Gratitude: Begin your prayers by thanking God for His blessings. Gratitude shifts our focus and changes the way we see our situations and our world.
Pray for Others—Even Enemies: Jesus teaches, “Pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44). It’s tough to hold resentment toward someone you’re lifting up to God.
Pray for Your Family: I remember hearing my parents pray for me as a child. Every day, they were lifting up our family. Don’t just worry about loved ones—pray for them and trust God to move in their lives.
The God Who Runs Toward You
Maybe today you feel distant from God. Maybe your prayers have gone quiet, or you feel unworthy. Remember this: God is the One who runs toward you, the One who heals from any distance, and right now, He’s as close as your next prayer.
If you feel far away, take a deep breath and reach out in prayer. Even “long-distance” prayers are heard instantly by your loving Father.
Today, take a moment to ask God to help you embrace these truths. Take a step in faith and pray—even for something that seems impossible. Your words, held by a mighty God, are more powerful than you think.
Don’t stop praying.
Written for Devotionals Daily by Matthew West, author of Don’t Stop Praying.
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Your Turn
Have busyness and noise, self-reliance, or sin and shame became prayer roadblocks in your life? Pick up your weapon of prayer and fight in the spirit with God who’s already won the victory! ~ Devotionals Daily