What Are The Most Common Prayer Malpractices and How to Avoid Them?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

Many prayers go unheard not because God is unwilling to answer, but because we approach Him the wrong way—this article exposes 13 common prayer malpractices and how to correct them.

Seriously? Prayer is good, right? How can there be a malpractice in doing good? Come on?!

That’s a fair reaction—because yes, prayer is good. It’s commanded by God, modeled by Jesus, and central to the Christian life. But like many good things, prayer can be misused. The Bible doesn’t just teach us to pray—it also warns us how not to.

Jesus Himself cautioned:

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” (Matthew 15:8)

Prayer is powerful—but it can be empty, misdirected, or even offensive to God if practiced wrongly. In this article, we’ll expose common prayer malpractices—those habits, traditions, or attitudes that dishonor God—and learn how to avoid them so that we can pray in a way that truly pleases the Lord.

MOST COMMON PRAYER MALPRACTICES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.

1. Praying Without a Personal Relationship with God

Many people pray, but not all know the God they are praying to. Prayer is not a religious routine—it is a conversation with the living God. But how can someone truly communicate with God if they have never come to know Him personally?

The Bible makes this clear:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Prayer requires faith—not just faith in something, but faith in God Himself. This assumes a relationship. You cannot truly call on someone you do not know.

Paul echoes this in Romans:

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)

Many are calling out in prayer, but they have not believed, they have not heard, and they do not truly know the One they’re calling on.

Prayer is communication. And meaningful communication is only possible when there is a real relationship.

So before we pray, we must ask: Do I know the God I’m praying to?

Read Also: “Do I Know God?” and “How Can I Have Personal Relationship With God?”

How to avoid it:

Begin with the most important prayer: a sincere return to God. Acknowledge your sin, turn to Him in repentance, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Only then will prayer become a living conversation with the One who hears and responds with love. (See also: “How Can I Return to God?”)

2. Praying with Unconfessed Sin

Unrepented sin breaks fellowship with God and hinders prayer.

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18)
“Your iniquities have separated you from your God… so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

How to avoid it:
Before praying, examine your heart. Ask God to reveal any sin you’re holding on to. Confess it, forsake it, and come to Him with a clean heart.

3. Praying with Wrong Motives

Not every unanswered prayer is a “no” from God—some are the result of wrong motives. If we pray with selfish ambition, pride, or worldly desires, God may withhold what we’re asking for—not because He doesn’t love us, but because He loves us too much to give us something that will harm us.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

We often pray for what we want, not necessarily what we need. But God sees the full picture. He knows the long-term consequences of every gift. He is not only our Provider—He is our Protector. And a good Father will never give His children what will destroy them.

Jesus taught this clearly:

“What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (Matthew 7:9–10)

God wants the best for you—not just what feels good in the moment. That means He sometimes says “no” to our prayers—not to punish us, but to protect us.

God’s refusals are often His greatest acts of mercy.

How to avoid it:
When you pray, ask yourself: Is this for God’s glory or just my gratification? Pray with open hands. Trust that your Father knows what’s best and will never give you something that harms your soul.

4. Vain Repetition and Empty Words

Mindless repetition is not prayer—it’s just noise. Jesus specifically warned against saying the same things over and over as if repetition could force God to respond.

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

This includes memorized lines, recited formulas, and even the use of prayer booklets that claim to “contain the right words” to make prayer more effective. The danger lies in trusting the formula instead of the Father. When we rely on a script, we risk losing the personal connection that makes prayer real and powerful.

There’s nothing wrong with reading a written prayer if it reflects your true heart—but if you’re simply repeating words without engagement, or thinking that the specific phrasing is what unlocks God’s blessings, that’s not biblical prayer. That’s superstition.

God does not respond to magical wording—He responds to faith, humility, and truth in the inward parts.

How to avoid it:
Speak to God from your heart. Use your own words. If you use written prayers or guides, don’t rush through them—pray them meaningfully. Let your conversation with God be personal, not programmed.

5. Hypocritical and Public Show Prayers

God is not impressed by performance. In Jesus’ time, some religious leaders prayed publicly to appear righteous before others. Their prayers were not about speaking to God—but about putting on a show.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.” (Matthew 6:5)

Today, this malpractice continues in different forms. Some pray long, eloquent prayers filled with religious jargon—not because it comes from the heart, but because it sounds “spiritual.” Others shout loudly or use dramatic tones to appear powerful or anointed, as if the volume or length of the prayer proves its effectiveness.

Jesus warned against this kind of showy praying:

“They think they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

Prayer is not a performance to impress people—it is a conversation with God.

How to avoid it:
Let your prayers be honest, simple, and sincere. You don’t need to shout to be heard by the God who sees in secret. Speak from the heart, not for the crowd. Avoid praying for applause, recognition, or show.

6. Praying Without Forgiveness

This is not just a hindrance to prayer—it is a serious spiritual offense. The Lord Jesus explicitly taught that if we do not forgive others, our own sins will not be forgiven.

“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:26)

This shows just how much weight God places on relational reconciliation. You cannot be in close communion with God while harboring resentment or bitterness toward others.

Forgiveness is not optional—it’s commanded. And your prayers are at stake if you withhold it.

Many believers take prayer seriously but take forgiveness lightly. But Jesus tied the two together. That should make us pause.

➡️ **Read: “Why Do I Need to Forgive Others Before God Can Forgive Me?”

How to avoid it:
Before you pray, ask: Is there someone I need to forgive? Don’t let pride delay restoration. Release others the way God has released you.

7. Bargaining with God

Some believers think that if they just pray hard enough, or fast long enough, God owes them something. But we can never twist God’s arm with our efforts. Prayer and fasting are not tools for manipulation—they are acts of humble surrender.

Many also misinterpret Jesus’ words:

“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)

This doesn’t mean that prayer and fasting give you power to make things happen on your terms. It means that certain breakthroughs require deeper dependence on God, not more force from us.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

We don’t fast and pray to earn something—we do it to align ourselves with God’s heart and will.

How to avoid it:
Check your motives. Don’t fast or pray to impress God or to earn a reward. Do it to seek Him, hear Him, and yield to Him.

8. Using Prayer to Gossip or Expose Others

This malpractice often shows up in group prayer settings. Some people subtly use prayer to expose someone else’s faults or sins, under the pretense of “interceding.” But it’s not really prayer—it’s spiritualized gossip or judgment. I have personally witnessed this, especially in prayer meetings. Some mention others by name or describe their actions, hoping to rebuke them through prayer.

This should never happen in the congregation. Within the core leadership, there may be room for honest intercession and accountability—but public prayer is not the place to shame or target individuals.

“Let all that you do be done with love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification.” (Ephesians 4:29)

How to avoid it:
Intercede, don’t expose. Pray in a spirit of love and humility. If someone needs correction, handle it privately—not through the prayer microphone.

9. Faithless or Doubting Prayer

Doubt cancels faith. Not just the doubt in what we pray for, but the doubt in whether we are even worthy to pray. Many believers feel unworthy or believe God won’t listen because of their past.

But here’s the truth:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from praying. Your repentance restores you to God. Don’t let guilt silence your prayers—God is ready to forgive and listen.

How to avoid it:
Stand on God’s promises. Pray in faith, not in guilt. Don’t focus on your weakness—focus on His mercy.

10. Neglecting Prayer Altogether

This is not a small issue—it is a sin of omission. When we know we should pray but we don’t, we’re not just being forgetful—we are being disobedient.

“You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

When we neglect prayer, we are not hurting God—we are hurting ourselves. We cut off our source of peace, wisdom, guidance, and strength. And yet, God never lets go.

He doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t let go of our hands. But the problem is—we give up and let go of His.

How to avoid it:
Discipline yourself to pray daily. Don’t wait for a crisis. Make prayer your habit, your lifeline, and your joy.

11. Vain Declarations

There’s a growing practice where people make bold verbal “declarations” of blessing, healing, or prosperity—believing that their words alone have power to manifest these outcomes. While it’s true that our words matter (Proverbs 18:21), the idea that we can speak things into existence without clear instruction from God crosses into vain presumption.

God alone has the power to decree and create by His word.

“For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:9)

While we are encouraged to speak in faith, prayer is not declaring our will into reality—it is submitting our heart to God’s will. The danger in vain declarations is that people begin to trust in their words, rather than in God’s sovereignty.

How to avoid it:
Instead of declaring outcomes that may or may not be God’s will, declare your trust in God, your dependence on Him, and your submission to His plan.

12. Forgetting Where We Stand

Some prayers sound more like commands to God than humble requests. People begin to pray loudly, demand things, and even order God to fulfill His promises—as though He were their servant.

This completely ignores the holiness and authority of the One we’re addressing.

“God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy.” (Hebrews 4:16)

We are invited to come boldly, but boldness is not arrogance. It’s the confidence of a child who trusts his Father—not the entitlement of a subject commanding a king.

How to avoid it:
Remember that prayer is a sacred privilege. Approach God with reverence, humility, and a deep awareness of His holiness. Boldness must always be clothed in respect and submission.

13. Faith Overuse and Misuse

One of the most misapplied verses in modern prayer is:

“Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24)

Some interpret this as: If I believe hard enough, it will happen! They start claiming results, celebrating before anything occurs, and even equate faith with imagination or emotional hype. But this is not biblical faith—it’s wishful thinking covered in spiritual language.

True faith is not believing that whatever I ask must happen—it is believing that whatever God wills, He will accomplish, and I can trust Him completely, whether the answer is yes, no, or wait.

“Not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

How to avoid it:
Let faith be anchored in who God is, not in what you hope He will do. Faith is not declaring what you want—it’s trusting God even when you don’t get what you want.

Final Thought

Prayer is a holy privilege—not a tool for manipulation, a performance for others, or a formula to get what we want. It is the sacred place where we commune with the living God—our Father, our King, our Savior. And yet, many approach prayer casually, carelessly, or even selfishly.

This article has exposed 13 serious prayer malpractices—from praying without a real relationship with God, to unforgiveness, to trying to twist God’s hand with fasting or declarations, and even using prayer to gossip or appear spiritual. These are not harmless habits—they are spiritual dangers that grieve the heart of God and can block our prayers from being heard.

Let this be a wake-up call: When God gives us the opportunity to approach His throne—don’t waste it. Do it right.

Come to Him in humility, not pride.
In truth, not repetition.
In relationship, not routine.
In reverence, not entitlement.
In faith, not fantasy.
In surrender, not demand.

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)

So pray—and pray rightly. Because your prayer life is not just a reflection of your words—it’s a reflection of your walk with God.

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