What are the key hindrances to answered prayer?  Before we go into hindrances, we need to understand this. God can answer YES (which we want), NO  or  WAIT.  As Christians we must believe in

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.   

This is key as we explore some of the hindrances to our prayer.

It is also important to note that if all the conditions of your prayer are met, NO or WAIT  can be a very real answer from God too.

In the answer NO, in (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) Paul pleaded with God three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. God did not remove it but said “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

In the case of Wait, Abram (before God change his name to Abraham  in Genesis 12:1-4) who at the age of 75, God asked him to leave his country and go to a land He will show him and promised to make Abram into a great nation. And the promise began to unveil itself 25 years later when he was 100 years old with the birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:5). This is but one example; there are many examples in the Word. So do not lose heart if all the conditions of prayer are in place and the answer has not revealed itself. It is just that God has His time to answer. Persevere, wait for His answer. Look what Abraham got !

I am preparing another section to cover Yes No Wait to share of the different responses to our prayers.

Now let us continue to cover some of the key areas that could hinder our prayers.

Unbelief :

Hebrews 11:6 -  6And 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 seek Him.

Sin :

James 5:16 –  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Isaiah 59:2 –   But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Psalm 66:18 – If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Micha 3:4 – Then they will cry out to the LORD,  but he will not answer them.  At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.

Not in His Will :

1 John 5:14 – 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Luke 22:42 – 42saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Wrong motive :

James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Philippians 2: 3-4 – 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Dont know what we are asking: Sometime we ask things that we do not know the implications to. for example,

Matthew 20: 20-23 - 20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.  21“What is it you want?” he asked.  She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”  22“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”  ”We can,” they answered.  23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

Unforgiveness towards others :

Matthew 18:35 – 35“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Husband and Wife relationship:

1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

 Please take some time to meditate on the above possibilities of unanswered prayers, you could also pop in at the Worship Video section and have a mini- worship session as you meditate.

God Bless

Ben

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