Praying becomes a chore when we... are shameful of our sins.

Couple of weeks ago, I talked about how not understanding God's power can have a negative effect on our prayer life. Often we fail to pray because we simply don't believe that God is able to answer our prayers.

This week, I want to talk about another prayer killer - shame.

I'm sure that like me, there are times in your life when you find praying really hard when you are struggling with a particular sin. It becomes even harder when we fail to stand up to that temptation! I can remember saying to myself, "How can you honestly pray to God and ask for forgiveness if this is the fourth time you've lashed out at the parents this week?" Or, "How can I pray to God for forgiveness when I knowingly downloaded another illegal copy of a movie online?" Asking for forgiveness is already hard as it is (mostly because we hate to admit that we're wrong), but asking for forgiveness on a sin that seems to be so habitual is almost mission impossible.

I guess there are three ways we can really tackle the problem of shame or guilt.

1) Repent. Really look deep into your heart, and change. Sin is not compatible with a person who believes in Jesus. We have died to sin! Paul teaches that church in Rome (in Roman 6) that since we've died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? He urges us to not let sin reign over our mortal body so that we obey its evil desires. We are not to offer our bodies to sin, but to God; not as instruments of wickedness, but as instruments of righteousness. Prayer becomes easier when we really work hard at ridding our bodies from the filth that is sin.

2) Christ already died for your sins on the cross, there is true forgiveness. We were dead in our transgressions, but God in his love and mercy, made us alive in Jesus. For it is by grace you've been saved! In Romans 8, Paul says this, "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." And indeed, we are in Christ Jesus, and our sins have been atoned by his blood, which he so willingly poured out for us. We have been justified in Jesus, and God continues to sanctify us by his Spirit. In order that in the coming ages, we will be glorified with him forever. Prayer becomes easier when we understand and reminded of our new relationship with God, that we are no longer enemies, but co-heirs with Christ.

3) Jesus has been there! He can help us. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Jesus has been tempted us like us, yet he did not bow down to sin, he conquered it. He's been there and won it, so that when we are struggling, he can understand and can help us. Prayer becomes easier when we know that Jesus is able to help us in times of need.

I think it is a good sign when we feel shameful about our sin, because as Christians, we ought to feel sadden by our sinfulness, by our rejection of the one that saves us. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we recognize which area we fall short in and change. But at the end of the day, know that there is true forgiveness in Christ Jesus, he had died so that us sinners don't have to. Know that we are not saved by our own merits or holiness, but by God's loving kindness.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8