What do I do if my prayers feel like nothing but asking God for things?
A viewer struggling with prayer says his prayers have become only requests for things (health, finances, marriage) and he feels he has lost the ability to worship God, and asks for advice.
Answer
Prayer is not easy for anyone, and you go through highs and lows because you are human and fight concupiscence every day. But you mature in prayer over the years. There is nothing wrong with asking God for things; you would be foolish not to. But if you notice you are in a routine of only asking, regroup and look at the dynamic of your prayer. Some things you will keep asking for and should, but sometimes I will pray and not ask God for anything at all; I will just sit down for a few minutes and let him know how much I love him and how amazed I am at what he has done, and God loves that, he looks forward to it. Treat God like the person he is, and develop the relationship so deeply that you do not always have to ask, because he already knows your needs. When you do struggle with something in your heart, ask him, and he will answer in the wisest way, often not with an instant magic button but by working it out through wisdom so the solution sticks. One of the hardest parts of prayer is leaving the answer in God's hands and being patient. Dry spells are normal in the Christian life; you will think you are just going through the motions, but you are not. The moment you open your mouth, God delights to hear your voice.