"Getting Out of a Slump"

“Getting Out of a Slump”

After a game in which he’d missed far more shots than he’d made, NBA star Paul Pierce was asked why he’d kept shooting when it was obvious he wasn’t on his game. He replied, “You have to shoot to get out of a shooting slump.” By this he meant that eventually the ball would go through the hoop consistently if he kept at it. The same principle could be applied to a baseball player whose batting average is heading south or a football quarterback whose passes fail to find receivers. If athletes were to give up rather than play through their struggles they’d soon need to find a new line of work.

Have you ever been in a prayer slump? (I know I have.) If so, how did you get out of it? By stopping altogether? Or (to take a page from the pro athletes’ handbook) by praying your way out? When Jesus wanted His disciples to learn about prayer He used parables “…to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1). The Apostle Paul said, “…Pray continually….” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In his song of thanksgiving David challenged Israel to “…Seek (God’s) face always.” (1 Chronicles 16:11). What happens if we choose to give up on praying? The answers stop coming (“You do not have, because you do not ask God.”—James 4:2). Is this any way to get out of our slump?

I once heard a speaker say, “Pray when you feel like it, pray when you don’t feel like it, pray until you do feel like it!” In other words, there’s never a good excuse for not praying (or at least not having a prayerful attitude).

In a prayer slump? Pray your way out! You’ll be blessed, the devil will be defeated, and God will be glorified as we see Him at work.

Blessings!

Jim McMillan