Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
4 1 2026
Religious or Spiritual? Why God Ignores Our Prayers
“The Lord has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood” (2 Samuel 5:20). This is God as Baal Perazim—the Lord of Breakthroughs.
I remember a night I will never forget. Sitting in a hospital room, watching monitors, listening to machines, and waiting… not knowing what the next few hours would hold. My wife had been hit with a life-threatening adrenal insufficiency from a reaction to a steroid injection, and everything in that moment became very real… very fast.
And I can tell you something honestly—there were no casual prayers in that room.
There was no, “Lord, bless this or that,” and move on.
No distractions. No checking boxes. Every word mattered. Every word was intentional. Every word carried weight. There was urgency… There was dependence… There was a kind of focus that only comes
when you realize you are not in control.
And as I sat there, I couldn’t shake the question…
Why does it take moments like this for us to finally pray like we mean it?
We are in a time of prayer… I pray you are too. But I want to talk with you about something deeper—the intentionality of prayer, and what is necessary if you truly want a breakthrough.
WORDS.
I believe one of the biggest reasons we don’t see answers to our prayers is simple… we have been without words. Scripture says, “You have not because you ask not.” And the truth is, many of us are not really asking. We are not speaking. We throw up a quick, “Bless my kids, my wife, my job, in Jesus’ name,” and then we’re off—to sleep, to work, to the next box on the checklist. If we’re honest… can we really call that heartfelt, intentional prayer?
It’s amazing—we live by the phrase, “We won’t change until we’re in enough pain.” And when that pain comes, everything shifts. Our prayers sharpen. Our focus locks in. We become desperate for God to move.
So why do we wait?
Scripture says, “Pray without ceasing.” Not just in crisis… but in daily life.
WORDS. We live on words. We build our lives with words. We win our spouses, lead our children, earn promotions—all with words. Yet somehow, we fail to bring that same weight, that same intentionality, into our relationship with God. Where is the reverence in our words of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication?
Even if it’s uncomfortable to admit… we have to wake up to what God’s Word says about prayer.
Are you praying daily for your relationship with Jesus to grow? For clarity in your calling? For your marriage, your children, your home? Or have we become so comfortable that we offer a thimble full of words to the God of the universe… while He has given us page after page of promises, instruction, wisdom, and spiritual weapons?
What is wrong with us?
We keep our checklists… but neglect the relationship Jesus is calling us into. A relationship so real, so powerful, that we would never ignore the honor of covering our families with the Word of God—His promises, His truth, spoken out loud. And what about simply being with Him… asking for nothing? That’s relationship too.
We are in a season of reflection—of prayer, repentance, and fasting—for spiritual alignment. This cannot be autopilot. This cannot be just another season, another Easter, another routine. Something has to shift.
I’m not trying to scold you… but don’t we all need a wake-up call sometimes? Don’t we need someone to knock down the flimsy excuses? “I’m busy… I’m tired… not enough time… the kids… work…” And yet we cry out, “I just want peace.” But Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Still, we chase everything else—things that fade, rust, and disappear.
We find time for everything we have to do. We get gas when the light is blinking. We make the meeting when it matters. But somehow, Jesus is the one who gets bumped.
We say, “I pray in the car… I’ve got worship music on during my commute.” And yes, that matters—but is that really your focused time with God? In traffic, the tailgater, the near miss, distracted, reacting… is that where we expect to hear clearly from Him?
Am I the only one who needs to repent here?
Where is our hunger for Jesus? Have you been hungry for Him this past week? Does that question bother you? It should. Not condemnation… conviction.
Because this is a spiritual fight—and you cannot fight it in your flesh.
Spiritual lethargy doesn’t break by accident. It takes intentional discipline. Start small if you have to—five or ten minutes. One verse. Sit with it. Speak your prayers out loud so your mind stays engaged. Change your environment—get out of bed, get on your knees, walk if you need to.
Pray the Word. Use WORDS.
“I will be strong in the power of His might.”
“No weapon formed against me will prosper.”
Lean on the Holy Spirit. Not your willpower.
Build accountability. Walk with someone. Pray with your spouse. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted at the end of the day—give God your best time, not your leftovers.
And surrender the struggle. Stop trying to manufacture spiritual energy. Bring your weakness to Him.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
He is not asking you to tough it out alone. He is inviting you in. God does not leave you. He is your refuge, your strength, your covering. Speak His Word with authority. Let His truth strengthen you. And hear this clearly…
God will never accept the excuse that you were too tired to pray—because His Spirit has the power to quicken your mortal body.
So when you feel that fatigue… don’t quit.
Say it out loud:
“Lord, give life to my spirit. Give life to my mind. Quicken my body. I offer my fatigue as a sacrifice of praise… and I WILL praise Your name.”
And watch what He does with a man or woman who finally finds his words.
Instead a song today please click on this pray to help with your breakthrough.
Invite someone this Easter to join you in church.
Instead of a worship song. Listen to this prayer to break that stronghold.
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