Craig Groeschel

We do.

I would love to talk about prayer for days. Yes. And the reason is because I always felt like I was not a good prayer.

I would love to talk about prayer for days. Yes. And the reason is because I always felt like I was not a good prayer.

So Amy is like... She wants to pray for a long time and loves it. And it even takes her a long time to get started. She's like, let's pray. And then she'll be breathing. I'm like, let's just, God's waiting, I'm waiting, let's go. And then she starts and she just genuinely will tell God how good he is for a long time and then pray about everything. And my mind's wandering.

So Amy is like... She wants to pray for a long time and loves it. And it even takes her a long time to get started. She's like, let's pray. And then she'll be breathing. I'm like, let's just, God's waiting, I'm waiting, let's go. And then she starts and she just genuinely will tell God how good he is for a long time and then pray about everything. And my mind's wandering.

I'm like a pastor and I suck at prayer. So I had to learn a lot about prayer. What I've discovered is we all have different personalities, right? And so I got six kids and I relate to them differently. My oldest one, she likes to write. And if we're writing, we can connect. My second one is face-to-face talk. My third one, I'm going through three. My third one is during activities.

I'm like a pastor and I suck at prayer. So I had to learn a lot about prayer. What I've discovered is we all have different personalities, right? And so I got six kids and I relate to them differently. My oldest one, she likes to write. And if we're writing, we can connect. My second one is face-to-face talk. My third one, I'm going through three. My third one is during activities.

My fourth one is on the phone. My fifth one is only if we're playing catch. We gotta be doing something. And my sixth one is she's an extrovert, anything and everything all the time, whatever. So six different kids, six different ways of relating. You're gonna relate to God in prayer different than somebody else.

My fourth one is on the phone. My fifth one is only if we're playing catch. We gotta be doing something. And my sixth one is she's an extrovert, anything and everything all the time, whatever. So six different kids, six different ways of relating. You're gonna relate to God in prayer different than somebody else.

Some people are going to want to talk to him for an hour. For me, what I've discovered is that I never pray for a long time, but I never go a long time without praying. And so when you talk about praying without ceasing, to me, it's prayer as much not just talking to God, but it's an awareness that he's with us always. So all through the day, I'm like, give me wisdom, God.

Some people are going to want to talk to him for an hour. For me, what I've discovered is that I never pray for a long time, but I never go a long time without praying. And so when you talk about praying without ceasing, to me, it's prayer as much not just talking to God, but it's an awareness that he's with us always. So all through the day, I'm like, give me wisdom, God.

Okay, God, am I supposed to encourage that person? God, am I supposed to pray for that person? Am I supposed to give something? And so it's like ongoing awareness of God. And then one of the big questions in the doubt book is like, why didn't God answer my prayer? Right? And his word said this, and I prayed for this. And so...

Okay, God, am I supposed to encourage that person? God, am I supposed to pray for that person? Am I supposed to give something? And so it's like ongoing awareness of God. And then one of the big questions in the doubt book is like, why didn't God answer my prayer? Right? And his word said this, and I prayed for this. And so...

There are actually a lot of reasons in the Bible why he doesn't always answer prayer. Sometimes, literally, there's a verse that says, if you're disrespectful to your wife, your prayers are hindered. Isn't that... That's in there.

There are actually a lot of reasons in the Bible why he doesn't always answer prayer. Sometimes, literally, there's a verse that says, if you're disrespectful to your wife, your prayers are hindered. Isn't that... That's in there.

Right? Yeah.

Right? Yeah.

Well, okay. So if I am to love the Lord God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and if I'm to love my bride as Christ loved the church, and if I'm being a jerk to her, imagine I've got two kids and they're fighting and hitting each other and say, "'Dad, will you take us to get donuts?' Like, no, you're being a jerk to each other. You gotta be nice to your brother."

Well, okay. So if I am to love the Lord God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and if I'm to love my bride as Christ loved the church, and if I'm being a jerk to her, imagine I've got two kids and they're fighting and hitting each other and say, "'Dad, will you take us to get donuts?' Like, no, you're being a jerk to each other. You gotta be nice to your brother."

Okay, so if I am a stronger physical being and I am using my power, my influence to be unkind to my bride, God says that hinders your prayers.