Psalm 66:18 (KJV) Says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:" This verse tells us that if there is willful sin in our life that we have not dealt with God will not hear us. If you feel your prayers are not being heard, consider whether or not you have willful sin in your life that you know you need to get rid of. Are you doing something that you know is a sin and have been in a battle with your flesh over? if so, that can be a hindrance to your prayers.
Another hindrance to our prayers can be selfishness. James 4:3 (KJV) Says, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." In this verse James is addressing the unsatisfied selfish desires of people, and pointing this out as the reason their prayers are not being answered.
Matthew 6:5-7 (KJV) Says, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. This scripture is warning against praying for show, and doing so to get personal attention or some sort of admiration and glory from onlookers. When we pray we need to do it earnestly, and for the right reasons. We should never pray so that others will think highly of us or so that we can gain the attention of people for our personal glory. This too can be a hindrance to our prayers.
Another hindrance to our prayers is having a proud Spirit. We should follow the example that Jesus set for us and be humble. If this is an area you have trouble with, go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you to develop a humble Spirit. Proverbs 29:23 (KJV) Says, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." We can't go to God in prayer puffed up and full of pride, and expect Him to answer our prayers.
Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV) Says, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift before the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." This scripture explains to us that if we have any unresolved conflict with someone that too can be a hindrance to our prayers. We are instructed to resolve the conflict, and then approach the alter.
Another hindrance to prayer is an unforgiving spirit. If we have someone in our lives that we need to forgive for something and we have failed to do so, this too can interfere with our prayers. Mark 11:25-26 (KJV) Says, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses." This passage makes it clear that we need to forgive those who have offended us, and the importance of doing so. We must forgive others or God will not forgive us. If you have an unforgiving spirit, and have failed to forgive someone that has wronged you in some way, work on forgiving them because it's the right thing to do, and because if you don't this too can be a hindrance to your prayers.
Proverbs 21:13 (KJV) gives us another possible hindrance to our prayers, and that is failing to have compassion for the needs of others. This scripture says, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." This scripture makes it crystal clear that we are to have compassion on the poor and needy, and that if we fail to do that we will find ourselves crying out, and not being heard.
Another possible hindrance to our prayers is that we give up before God has giving us an answer, failing to remember that he does things in his time, and that his timing is perfect. Luke 18:1 (KJV) Says, "And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." We must not grow weary and faint or give up while waiting on God to answer our prayers.
Mark 11:22-24 (KJV) Says, "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." This passage plainly states that we must believe without doubt, if we want our prayers to be answered. Unbelief can also be a hindrance to our prayers. We must believe in our hearts, and do so without doubt. We must have unwavering, strong, steadfast faith, trust, and belief in our Heavenly Father, and in the fact that with Him all things are possible.
Friends if you feel as though your prayers have gone or are going unanswered, I urge you to consider the above hindrances as possible reasons for that. If you find that you have one or more of these hindrances going on in your life, begin work immediately to clean those up. Clear up any prayer hindrances you may discover you have, remember to be patient when waiting on God to answer you, and know for certain that His timing is perfect. Remain unwavering in your faith, and remember God loves you right where you are.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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