Prayer Hindrances

The Lord longs for us to pray and to seek his face. He wants us to cast all of our cares on Him because He cares for us. He has told us that what ever we ask in His name we will receive. He assures us that if we seek we will find and if we knock the door will be opened. He tells us that our heavenly Father will most certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them. So we can be confident that when we pray that he hears our prayers and He will be faithful to answer them. (John 16:24, Matthew 6:7-12)

But do you ever feel like your prayers are not being answered or God can not hear them? What if there is something blocking our prayers from reaching the throne room? What if our prayer line was clogged or contaminated? Is that possible? Yes..there are hindrances that can creep into our lives and clog or block the communication lines with God keeping our prayers from being heard and answered. Prayer hindrances. The bible speaks clearly of these prayer blockers. So what are they?

Ø Iniquity and unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 66:18)
Ø Unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35, Matthew 6:14-15)
Ø Selfish prayers & prayers with wrong motives (James 4:3, Luke 22:42)
Ø Husband and wives mistreating each other (1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:22-24)
Ø Wrongs not made right (Matthew 5:24-24)
Ø Unpaid tithe and offering (Malachi 3:7-9)
Ø Disobedience and rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23, Deuteronomy 1:41-45)

All of these will hinder our prayers and our relationship with the Lord because they keep us from God’s will.

When we go into the presence of the Almighty God we must remember that He is holy and righteous. Therefore we should enter into his presence with thanksgiving, praying with holy hands lifted up to God, free from sin, anger, resentment, and asking forgiveness for our hidden faults and deliberate wrongs. (2 Timothy 2:8, Psalm 19:12-14)

“But how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free from guilt and innocent of some great crime.” (Psalm 19:12-13)

“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives? Who may stand before the Lord? Only those with pure hands and hearts” (Psalm 24:4)

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit work as our filter system helping us to keep our prayer lines clean. These prayer hindrances do not need to have a stronghold on us. With the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, with daily repentance and confession of our sins we can be free from any prayer hindrances. (1 John 1:9, Psalm 51)

Lord, we thank you for your Word because we know it is true and teaches us what is right, helps us realize what is wrong in our lives, it straightens us out, and helps us to do what is right. Show us if there is anything hindering our prayers. We long to come into your presence free from any obstructions or distractions. In Jesus name..Amen.