Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8600 Prayer and worship of the believer » 8602 prayer » 8616 prayerlessness Without prayer any relationship with God is impoverished because vital communication is lost. Reasons for prayerlessness Unbelief Psalm 14:1-4 pp Psalm 53:1-4 See also Job 21:15; Romans 3:11 Self-reliance Jeremiah 17:5 See also Zephaniah 3:2 Worship of other gods Deuteronomy 32:17-18 See also Jeremiah 2:5-6,8 Guilt as a result of disobedience Genesis 3:9-12 Adam and Eve did not respond to their sin by praying. On the contrary they sought to hide from God; Jonah 1:1-6 Jonah tried to run away from God. Tiredness Luke 22:45 See also Matthew 26:40 pp Mark 14:37; Matthew 26:43-45 pp Mark 14:40-41 Discord in relationship Examples of prayerlessness Joshua, after a great victory Joshua 7:2-5 Joshua devised his own plan in attacking Ai and did not seek the LORD until after he suffered a disastrous defeat. King Ahaziah, turning to idols 2 Kings 1:16 See also 2 Kings 1:1-6 The nominal religion of Israel Isaiah 43:22 This verse implies that prayer involves effort--the people only paid lip service to God. See also Isaiah 1:14; Isaiah 64:7 Israel trusts in other people rather than God Israel's failure to repent of their sins Daniel 9:13 See also Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 5:3 The lack of an intercessor among God's people Consequences of prayerlessness Alienation from God John 15:6 See also Psalm 73:27 God's judgment Zephaniah 1:4-6 See also Jeremiah 10:21 Disloyalty to Jesus Christ Matthew 26:74 pp Mark 14:71 pp Luke 22:60 pp John 18:27 Peter had previously failed to pray in Gethsemane. Spiritual poverty James 4:2 See also 2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 2:5 Ineffective ministry 1 Samuel 2:12 This literally means they had no fellowship with the LORD; 1 Samuel 12:23; John 15:4-5 Conflicts with others because of unfulfilled desires See also
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