Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8616 prayerlessness

8616 prayerlessness

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

Discord in relationship

1 Peter 3:7

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

Isaiah 30:1-2; Isaiah 31:1

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

Ezekiel 22:30

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

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

James 4:1-4