Hindered Prayers

Yesterday we began looking at some of the things that can hinder our communication with God. Today we will look at three more pitfalls we must watch out for.

Covetousness is also a hindrance to prayer. Covetousness is not only wanting what other people have but also wanting to keep resources that belong to the Lord. God said through Malachi, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). When we hold on to resources that belong to God, we are coveting and stealing from God. Yet when we joyfully give back what is rightfully His, we can experience “so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

Another hindrance to prayer is habitual disobedience. King Saul’s greatest flaw was his disobedience to God. The prophet Samuel warned him, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Disobedience is a form of arrogance and pride that will destroy our prayer lives, but obedience and humility will bring answers to prayers.

Finally, unconfessed sin will hinder answers to prayer. The psalmist said, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). When we have a love for a certain sin and we cherish and excuse it, that sin builds a wall between us and God that blocks our prayers. Habitual, unrepentant sin is a danger to our spiritual lives. We must seek God’s help to overcome this perilous stumbling block.

If you are experiencing hindered prayers, spend time examining your life for one of these stumbling blocks or any other hindrance that the Holy Spirit calls to your attention.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that You would reveal and uproot anything in my life that is causing a disruption in my relationship with You. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit these hindrances would be removed from my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.