Alternatives to Prayer When You Don’t Feel Like Praying

The truth is that there will be days you absolutely do not feel like praying. Yes, you know you need to pray. You know that the bible says “pray without ceasing”. The tremendous benefits of prayer are within your knowledge, but for whatever reason, whether it’s permissible or not, you just don’t feel like praying. In times like this, you need good alternatives to prayer.

Here are six alternatives to prayer when you don’t feel like praying:

1. Play music and sing along

It is important to note that prayer isn’t a specific set of words or recitations. It is not something that starts with “In Jesus name” or “Father Lord” and ends with “In Jesus name we have prayed.” Prayer is communication with God. It is spending time in fellowship, talking to and listening to God. Sometimes you are making requests, other times you are just meditating and listening. So, when you don’t feel like praying, play some good music.

Music has the power to stir our heart. There is a type of music that will make you pray. And sometimes, the goal is not to make you pray, but just get you mind full of God and his word and that also is okay.

Create a playlist with songs that stirs up praise and adoration to God, songs with sound lyrics and messages. So that anytime you don’t feel like praying, you have something to turn to.

Prayer isn't a specific set of words or recitations. It is not something that starts with "In Jesus name" or "Father Lord" and ends with "In Jesus name we have prayed." Prayer is communication with God. Click To Tweet

2. Listen to a sermon

You don’t feel like praying? Listen to a sermon. The goal is to have consistent devotion which builds spiritual edification. Trust me, it’s one of the best alternatives to prayer.

Praying seems difficult sometimes because it involves your active awareness and participation. You have to be involved, and sometimes you are just too tired or burdened to give such commitment. Instead, do something else that contributes to spiritual edification and doesn’t demand so much participation from you.

Play a sermon and go about your business.

3. Read the Bible

Another great alternative to praying is reading your bible. Your time of prayer in the first place is as good as your time in the word. Therefore, the more time you spend growing in the word is beneficial to the effectiveness of your prayer life eventually.

Note that this is not to say that you shouldn’t have separate dedicated time for bible study. They both are important and can’t be completely substituted, but the point here is that instead of doing nothing because you can’t pray, read your bible.

Prayer and Bible study are both important and can’t be completely substituted. But instead of doing nothing because you can’t pray, read your bible. Click To Tweet

4. Call a friend

Right association is one of the topmost secrets to a consistent growth in Christian devotion. Believers were not created to grow in isolation, the early church is proof.

See Act 1:14, Act 4:23-24, Act 12:5, they constantly gathered to pray. Even Peter was with John in Act 3 on their way to pray when they met the blind guy.

Sometimes, all you need is a friend who can pray with you. Someone whose strength you can ride on.

Proverbs 27:17 HCSB: Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9‭-‬10 HCSB: Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

Have friends you can call up to pray. Fix regular fixed prayer time of prayer with someone, no matter how short.

5. Listen to a recorded prayer

Another good alternative to when you don’t feel like praying is to listen to someone praying, a recorded prayer, an online prayer service. This is so powerful. It is similar to calling up someone to pray, but it works for the time you won’t be able to reach anyone.

Here is a good prayer album you can try – Prayer Companion.

6. Pray

Pastor Emmanuel Iren has a saying that the cure to prayerlessness is prayer. So when you don’t feel like praying, pray regardless.

Has it ever happened to you that you don’t feel like praying, but you push yourself to pray anyways? Before you know it, you gradually grow into the prayer, you get into it, and the weariness and drag melts away like wax in the fire.

So, don’t listen to the lie of the devil or that of your body that you can’t pray. Push through the drag. Don’t give up even though you don’t feel like it. Continue, though it feels like your prayers are bouncing back from the ceiling.

Remember that what’s more important in the place of prayer is not your prayer points but the things that happen inside of you. Mere appearance in the place of prayer changes, improves and edifies you. So don’t give in to the weariness.

" The cure to prayerlessness is prayer." – Pastor Emmanuel Iren Click To Tweet

I hope this helps someone, kindly share with a friend.

Do you have other good alternatives to prayer, do leave a comment.

You can also read: How to Maintain a Vibrant Spiritual Walk