Are you aware that there are many things that can make your prayers ineffective?
“Listen!
The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you
call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you
off from God. Because of your sins, he
has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT)
Selfishness or Pride
The motives of our prayers are of the greatest
importance. If we go to God with a motive
that is selfish, God won’t answer it.
“And
even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want
only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:3 NLT)
Idolatry
When you think of an idol, what do you think of? Perhaps, images or statues of gold, wood, or
bronze? Did you know an idol can be
defined as anything or anyone that takes the place of God in your life? This could be another person, a relationship,
your career, a hobby or activity, or even money.
When we place something else in our life above God, your
prayers will go unanswered. God must
come first!
“Son
of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced
things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their
requests?” (Ezekiel 14:3 NLT)
Unforgiveness
If there is someone in your life that you have not forgiven,
someone that you are holding a grudge against, your prayer life will
suffer. Besides displeasing God, anger,
controversy and unforgiveness make prayer difficult. When we refuse to forgive others, a root of
bitterness grows up in our hearts and chokes our prayers. By not letting go of the grudge and
forgiving, you are sinning. God expects
us to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
The sin of unforgiveness will hinder your prayers.
“In
every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God,
free from anger and controversy.” (1 Timothy 2:8 NLT)
“But
when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so
that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25 NLT)
Jesus said that we should interrupt our prayers, if needed,
and make peace with others.
“So
if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly
remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there
at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your
sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24 NLT)
God wants us to obey him immediately and thoroughly. Our goal should be to have a right
relationship with God and also with others.
Indifference
You will be heard as you hear. If we ignore the requests of others who are
in need and turn our backs on them, how can we expect our Father to hear us
when we cry out to Him for help?
“Those
who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time
of need.” (Proverbs 21:13 NLT)
Jesus is serious about us showing compassion to those in
need. We cannot separate passion for God
from compassion for man. As believers,
we are called to exemplify the love of God every day. We can’t serve God properly without also
serving man.
31
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then
he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in
his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at
his left. 34 “Then the King will say to
those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the
Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry,
and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and
you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was
sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply,
‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you
something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and
give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit
you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell
you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and
sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25:31-44 NLT)
Despising the Law
Those who rebel against God’s word – not listening to it,
not seeking it, not living according to it – should know that God is repulsed by
their prayers. How can one who despises
God’s law expect God to listen to them when they are in trouble if they have spent
their lives dismissing His instructions?
“God
detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.” (Proverbs 28:9 NLT)
“But
if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you
want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7 NLT)
Unbelief and Doubt
Believing is the best known condition for prayer. This does not mean that because we come to
God convinced that He will grant our request that He is obligated to do
so. Praying without doubt means praying
in the secure belief and understanding of God’s character, nature and
motives. We must believe in His ability
to grant any request that is in accordance with His will and purpose. We must pray with the understanding that whatever
He purposes is the best possible scenario.
“You
can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew
21:22 NLT)
“6
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver,
for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is
blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world,
and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1:6-8 NLT)
Discordance in the
Home
Discord in the home is a definite obstacle to prayer. If a husband’s attitude toward his wife is less than godly,
this is a hindrance to his prayers.
“In
the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with
understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is
your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your
prayers will not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7 NLT)
Likewise, wives are to follow the biblical principles of
submission to their husbands’ headship if their own prayers are not to be hindered.
“22
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband
is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior
of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives
should submit to your husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-24 NLT)
Unconfessed Sin
If you feel as though your prayers are going unanswered, you
may want to consider whether there is any unconfessed sin in your life. Perhaps you are committing a sin right now
that you do not even recognize as sin because “everybody is doing it.”
“If
I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
(Psalm 66:18 NLT)
“We
know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who
worship him and do his will.” (John 9:31 NLT)
“Listen!
The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you
call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you
off from God. Because of your sins, he
has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT)
God Sees and Knows
All
Obviously our Almighty God see and knows all things. There is no prayer that any person has ever
offered that God does not know about. He
knows the contents of every prayer offered.
When the Bible says that God does not hear the prayers of sinners, it
does not mean that he cannot hear them; it simply means that God will not
comply with the sinner’s requests. He
will not empower them in their wickedness; it is to God as if they have not
spoken.
With that being said, God may respond to even the prayer of
the wicked because His grace outweighs His wrath. However, He is under no obligation to do
so.
What to Do?
All these prayer hindrances can be dealt with at once by
coming to God in prayers of confession and true, honest repentance. Once we have done that, we can enjoy a clear,
open channel of communication with God. Once
those hindrances are removed, you will again see God working through your
prayers.
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