Excerpts from a "Christian Atheist" part 1

A collection of underlined thoughts from Chapter 2 of "The Christian Atheist" by Craig Groeschel

Title:  When you believe in God but not in prayer

"The truth is some Christian Atheists believe in God, but they don't believe n prayer.  They might claim to believe prayer works, but their actsion say otherwise.  Some rarely pray, and when they do, they don't expect anything to change"

"Admittedly, when prayer becomes an empty, meaningless ritual, it is boring.  But when you remember who you're talking to---when you acknowledge that the God of the universe is honestly, truly excited to hear from you---that truth alone will change your attitude toward prayer.  Move the focus from yourself onto God..."

"One more excuse for avoiding prayer---and this is the deal breaker for most of us Christian Atheists---is that we just aren't sure our prayers will make a difference.  We've tried praying before and nothing seemed to happen.  After several failed attempts, praying seems at best ineffective and at worse a waste of time." 
Question:  Does anyone ever feel this way at a typical church prayer meeting?  Just a personal question.  Is anyone really expecting something to happen in most church prayer meetings. 

Story:  "A pastor once asked his church to pray that God would shut down a neighborhood bar.  The whole church gathered for an evening prayer meeting, pleading with God to rid the neighborhood of the evils of this bar.  A few weeks later, lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.  having heard about the church's prayer crusade, the bar owner promptly sued the church.  When the court date finally arrived, the bar owner passionately argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members' prayers.  The pastor backtracked, brushing off the accusations.  He admitted the church prayed, but he also affirmed that no one in his congregation really expected anything to happen.  (Ouch)
The judge leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and perplexity on his face.  Finally he spoke: "I can't believe what I'm hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who doesn't"

Mark 11:24 Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Of course there are certain biblical conditions to this, but do not miss the point)Heb. 11:6 "For without faith it is impossible to please God for He who comes to God MUST believe that He is; and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"
Expect the presence of God, Expect the power of God...

• Consistent prayer:  I Thes. 5:17 "Pray without Ceasing"
• Persistent prayer:  Luke 18 "Men ought always to pray and not faint"

P.U.S.H.:  "Pray Until Something Happens"

• Fervent prayer: James 5:16 "The effectual, fervent prayer, of a righteous man avails much"
• Confident prayer:  I John 5:14-15 "This is the confidence that we have in Him; if we ask anything according to His will we know that He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, then we know that we have the petitions that we ask of Him

Anon. "prayerlessness is practical atheism"

Question: What is the difference between an atheist who doesn't pray and a Christian who doesn't pray?...  Nothing.

May we all repent of our prayerless tendencies and glorify God thru strong faith demonstrated in confident, fervent, consistent, prayer.