WHY SO DIFFICULT?
So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. Genesis 3:6 (NLT)
Most of us would agree that prayer is among the most amazing experiences imaginable. After all, we get to communicate with Almighty God! So why is it such a challenge for us to do it? Why does it seem like everything in the Christian life is easier than prayer?
To arrive at the answer we need to go back to the beginning, to the garden where mankind first fell. Prior to their disobedience, Adam and Eve enjoyed a pure and perfect relationship with God. Conversing with Him came naturally, and there weren't any barriers between them. Sadly the presence of sin introduced an immediate change.
...the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. (Genesis 3:8 NLT)
Sin brought about a relational rift, and man's relationship with God has never been the same. It's true that Christ has restored us to right standing with God. But while we're free from the penalty of sin, we're not free from its presence. Our sinful nature still taunts and tugs at us, and this is why prayer is still such a challenge for us.
We carry that sinful gene that wants to do what Adam and Eve did, that wants to run and hide from God, to turn away from communing with Him. But it doesn't have to direct our actions or dominate our character. When we determine to be led by the new nature that Christ has birthed in us, we can reclaim a piece of what was lost in
Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss with your group what makes communication so challenging. Share about a time this week when you were trying to communicate, but a barrier of some sort frustrated you.
Dig into Genesis 3:1–8. What was the cost of Adam and Eve’s disobedience? What does this passage teach you about the enemy who seeks to destroy our connection with God? Why would Satan seek to deter and destroy our communication with the Lord?
Decide as a group to eliminate those things in your life that are drawing you away from genuine communion with God. Take an inventory of anything that competes for your attention as you seek to connect with God through prayer. What steps can you take to be free from these distractions?
