The Crossway Podcast Practical Tips to Help You Pray More (Courtney Reissig)
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Mar 2, 2026 Courtney Reissig, writer and teacher and author of Prayer, speaks frankly about how prayer can feel hard. She explores why distraction, self-sufficiency, and unanswered prayers complicate prayer. She highlights praying Scripture and the Psalms, practical routines like timers and journals, and creative pocket-times to make prayer more doable.
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Why Prayer Feels Harder Than Bible Reading
- Prayer often feels nebulous because it's a conversation with someone you can't see.
- Courtney Reissig says reading the Bible feels checkable, while prayer requires more faith and surrender to lack of control.
Self Sufficiency Makes Prayer Uncomfortable
- Western Christians' self-sufficiency makes prayer uncomfortable because prayer acknowledges dependence.
- Reissig links the tendency to act instead of pray to cultural values of control and independence.
Treat Prayer Like A Discipline Not Instant Feeling
- Expect prayer to be a discipline that can feel difficult at first, like running or eating vegetables.
- Reissig advises reducing shame by recognizing external factors (tiredness, season, sin) that make prayer hard.
