{"id":2469655,"date":"2025-08-01T13:09:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/op-ed-true-men-of-faith-pray-regularly-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:09:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:09:47","slug":"op-ed-true-men-of-faith-pray-regularly-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/op-ed-true-men-of-faith-pray-regularly-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Op-Ed: True Men of Faith Pray Regularly, But Not for the Reason You Might Think"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fop-ed-true-men-of-faith-pray-regularly-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2469655&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >article discusses teh spiritual struggle<\/a> many Christians face in their walk with Jesus Christ, emphasizing how human weakness and distraction frequently enough hinder devotion to God. Evangelist Paul Washer advises believers not only to practice discipline in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/analysis-bidens-bloodthirsty-floor-pooping-canine-companion-is-a-window-into-his-soul\/\" title=\"ANALYSIS: Biden\u2019s Bloodthirsty, Floor-Pooping Canine Companion Is a Window Into His Soul\">spiritual matters<\/a> but also to cultivate an awareness of their own weakness, sinfulness, and dependence on God. Washer highlights that those who deeply study the Scriptures and pray regularly do so not out of mere discipline but as they recognize their own limitations and desperately need Christ&#8217;s truth and strength. The Bible, as God&#8217;s inspired revelation, centers on jesus Christ as the ultimate source of wisdom and knowledge. True spiritual growth, Washer asserts, comes from humbly acknowledging one&#8217;s weakness while magnifying Christ, rather than relying on one&#8217;s own strength or willpower.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Those who follow Jesus Christ can attest that despite the worthiness of their Savior, their own flesh can very easily inhibit their walk with Him.<\/p>\n<p>Even beyond sins that disrupt fellowship with God, there is the constant temptation to devote too much time, energy, or affection toward lesser things that are not inherently sinful, but are indeed lesser than the greatest thing: the worship of the Triune God.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, this experience is far from uncommon, and Paul Washer, a preacher and evangelist who runs the <a href=\"https:\/\/heartcrymissionary.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HeartCry Missionary Society<\/a>, has a word of advice.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than merely gritting one&rsquo;s teeth and making oneself remain disciplined in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/forgotten-reformer-pierre-viret-make-comeback\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spiritual<\/a> matters, Washer suggested also cultivating a proper sense of weakness, sinfulness, and neediness.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have discovered that men that study the Scriptures a lot, it&rsquo;s not because of some secret kind of natural discipline. It&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;re afraid of their own wisdom,&rdquo; Washer said in a 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZCPgcga0sPw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sermon<\/a> that circulated recently on social media.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They know they will die without God&rsquo;s truth. Men that pray a lot, why do they pray? It&rsquo;s not because they&rsquo;re disciplined. It&rsquo;s not even because they&rsquo;re super spiritual,&rdquo; he preached. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve caught a glimpse of how weak they are, and so they hold onto Christ, and they hold onto Christ&rsquo;s word with everything they have.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Such men come to realize, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s all they have. They don&rsquo;t have anything.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Washer added, &ldquo;The greatest teachers are those who have looked within and seen they have zero wisdom.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They have nothing to offer, and so if they&rsquo;re going to amount to anything, if they&rsquo;re going to say anything that has even the semblance of truth, it must come from the word of God,&rdquo; he continued.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&ldquo;I have discovered that men that study the scriptures a lot, it is not because of some secret kind of natural discipline, it&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;re afraid of their own wisdom.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Paul Washer<br \/> Covenant Conference 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oZc40zLGmY\">pic.twitter.com\/oZc40zLGmY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Creeds &amp; Confessions (@CreedConfession) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CreedConfession\/status\/1950342352197099842?\">July 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes we take for granted that God wrote a book.<\/p>\n<p>He has chosen to reveal His character, nature, and redemptive plan through an anthology of history, poetry, and narrative inspired by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>This book makes wise the simple and serves as a light to the feet, even through the valley of the shadow of death.<\/p>\n<p>But most importantly and centrally, the Bible reveals the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, as noted by Washer, pursuit of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/decades-long-secularization-us-officially-reversed-young-people-turn-christ-major-study-finds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christ<\/a> through the word of God and prayer will not only reveal His greatness, but also our weakness.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you see people who pray, it&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;ve looked within, and they&rsquo;ve seen, &lsquo;Within me there is still a betrayer. Within me there is no power. If He does not give me life, if He does not strengthen me, I&rsquo;m lost. I&rsquo;m lost.&rsquo; You see? So it&rsquo;s just the opposite,&rdquo; Washer said.<\/p>\n<p>We may think that the strongest Christians are the ones with enough strength of will to have a consistent walk with God, but according to Washer, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the strong. It&rsquo;s the weak,&rdquo; because only the weak know how desperately they need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/woke-christian-magazine-wants-sob-stories-border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The key to growth in the Christian life is not making much of ourselves, but making much of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/survey-84-self-identified-christians-reject-basic-tenet-faith-make-sure-not-among\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christ<\/a>&nbsp;and seeing ourselves rightly in the process.<\/p>\n<p>From there, by the mercy of God, everything else will fall into place.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><i><b>The views expressed in this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tone-shift-media-fawn-over-bidens-fireplace-sleeping-habits-trashed-trump-for-every-little-thing\/\" title=\"TONE SHIFT: Media Fawn Over Biden\u2019s Fireplace, Sleeping Habits, Trashed Trump For Every Little Thing\">opinion article<\/a> are those of their author and are not necessarily either d or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/submitop-ed\/\">here<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Beyond sins that break fellowship with God, there is a continual temptation to invest excessive time, energy, or affection in things that aren&#8217;t sinful themselves but are still far less important than worshiping the Triune God<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2469656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Prayer.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5250,55194,11817,28923],"class_list":["post-2469655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-faith","tag-masculinity-2","tag-prayer","tag-spirituality"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Prayer.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2469655"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2469659,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469655\/revisions\/2469659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2469656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2469655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2469655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2469655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}