I have assurance of my salvation, but my prayer life is still awful. I never have any desire to pray, and when I do pray, it's always half-hearted and empty. I've tried disciplining myself and just forcing myself to pray even when I don't feel like it, but that usually leaves me more discouraged than when I started. I feel so guilty over my prayerlessness, but I can't seem to improve. I've cried out to God so many times, begging Him, "Lord, help me to pray more," "God, give me the discipline to pray," and "Father, please give me motivation to pray." But it never changes. I just want to be able to enjoy communion with my Savior.

raeray

Date posted: 5y ago

I understand this all too well. I have gone through this a lot. Something that helped me is just talking to God randomly. Like yesterday when I saw 2 sunflowers growing in the freeway. I just said God thanks that was cool to see. It may not seem like a prayer but I believe prayer is a conversation with God so I see stuff and thank him or pray for the situation I come across. I may do it halfhearted but it’s still talking to him. As long as you’re including Him I honestly think you’re good.

keith11

Date posted: 5y ago

I completely relate. This is one of those instances where mental health and legitimate Christian desires converge and get blurry. I am a Christian and struggle with what is called "scrupulousity" in my OCD. As a matter of faith, a question to ask here may be "do I really believe, based on what God has revealed in scripture, that He wants me to feel like a worthless guilty failure because I don't _______ often enough?" If the answer is no, then we can start there. Maybe the issue is not that we don't pray enough, but that we feel there is some certain amount we must pray to keep God's affections. When you think of it like that the OCD may get exposed for the imposter that it is, tricking us and invading our faith. Hope that makes some sense.

keith11

Date posted: 5y ago

Also, it helps to bear in mind that so much that is preached and written in Christian teaching is done so with a "normal" audience in mind. When we hear a sermon on prayer, and the need to pray more often, our personal struggles send us down a path the preacher probably never intended. We rarely consider that the majority of the audience being spoken to may need to hear that to motivate them from complacency. We have to apply a different lens sometimes because we understand our own unique position in this scenario... again, hope that makes sense.

ButterflyStar

Date posted: 4y ago

Are you still on this app??? Plz help me

Farhadi28

Date posted: 5y ago

Like raeray said, prayer is just talking to God. It doesn't have to be all formal or anything, you can just talk to God throughout your day about anything. Maybe just every day start off by thanking God for His love that saves you and makes you His child. Right there you just prayed in a very simple and beautiful way. Or what concerns you tell Him about it and that is considered prayer.

DezzleDrops

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 24w ago

Avoidant of Prayer, Not praying enough?

Lately, I’ve been avoidant of prayer. A lot of fear comes with it for me lately. Fear I don’t deserve it, fear I’m doing it wrong, fear I’ll say the wrong thing or damage my salvation in some way, fear God will think I’m fake, etc. But, if I avoid praying because I’m afraid, I’m afraid then that God is mad at me for not praying, or that it means I don’t have a good enough relationship with him. If I was a better Christian, I’d pray more. It’s a vicious cycle, because then I feel even more guilt and worry about prayer. Like, I’m scared God will think I’m full of it, or I don’t love him, because I go days without praying at times.

Religion & Spirituality OCD

Blackhorse45!!

Date posted: 18w ago

Just want to give up and need Jesus

I have been doubting my salavtion for 18 years or 15 years does not matter I am 40. I was told I had ocd region last year and tore me apart. It does make sense I have also ptsd and bipolar. How do I know if I have repented and am saved? I feel numb to God. Never any love or change in my heart. I don’t belive good works save me. I know the Bible in my head but how do you know Jesus? I am tired and need a heart change but how does that happens with ocd? Forget about church they can’t handle me and have tried to help but given up. Been told I have been oppressed by demons pray harder trust God more ect. I feel depressed and take my anger out on my kids age 14 10 and 9 and husband. I feel alone and taking medicine does not help. I take my meds for bipolar and anxity. How can I be sure God has saved me or I want God? I am mad at God and been told it’s was sin. I think it is but why did I have to be abused as a kid and have mental health issues and now ocd junk. I don’t have the fruit of the spirit. My mind is in torment sometime and numb myself out with tv sleep drinks food pills ect. Where is Jesus ? Why can’t I have assurence? Just being real and the church is scared of me or I overwhelm people. Jesus offeres peace and rest and I don’t have that. I want my sins forgiven and be loved by God and have him as a my father. Dortine does matter saying the sinners prayer does not save me and I am lost and confused. I don’t want to go to hell. Please anyone have anything to say. I don’t have support

kakeyboo18

Date posted: 12w ago

people with religious ocd

my ocd has really been taking its toll on me lately. i feel completely unloved by God. i use to feel it, but now i just kinda feel a hole. i talk to Him everyday, and read devotionals. i spend time with Him. i just can’t feel Him. i know a relationship with God isn’t based on feelings, but on faith. i guess my faith is running a bit low. i’m just tired and my thoughts get worse. it’s like a roller coaster.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community