12 THINGS THAT CAN HINDER YOUR PRAYERS.
Do you feel sometimes as if your prayers are not being heard or answered? Often, God delays His answers, so that we can seek Him, and also learn how to be patient. However, we must be aware of the following factors, that can make our prayers ineffective, and make sure that they do not creep into our lives.
1) Unforgiveness
If we do not forgive others, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. (Matthew 6:15)
2)An Unthankful Heart
Give God thanks in all things, because in all trials, painful situations, He is always with us. 1Thessalonians 5:18 says "...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
3) Unbelief
Pray with confidence, believing God to do what He said He will do. James 1:6-7 says "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."
4) Praying Amiss
Ask for the things in God's will, the outcome of which is to honour and glorify God. James 4:3 says "You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
5) Laziness
James 4:2 says "You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask."
6) Disobedience
Pray and ask God with confidence, obeying His commandments. 1 John 3:22 says "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things which are pleasing in His sight."
7) Disagreement
Pray with others and agree in faith. Matthew 18:19 says "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."
8) Disharmony In Family
Be at peace with one another. 1 Peter 3:7 says "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
9) Idols
- Not putting God first in our lives. Ezekiel 14:2-5 says "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of by them? Therefore speak to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: 'Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols. '"
10 Lack of Care for the Poor
- Ignoring and not having compassion. Proverbs 21:13 says "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard."
11) Bitterness
- Bearing malice, hate, grudge etc. Matthew 5:23,24 says "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
12) Impatience
Matthew 7:7,8 says "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
The Holy Spirit can lead us, teach us and guide us to overcome these hindrances, if we ask Him to help us in our daily Christian walk with Jesus Christ.
