I think all of us have had those times where it feels like our prayers aren’t getting through the ceiling. In those times we may wonder "why don't I feel like my prayers are being heard or being answered?" Is God not interested in what I’m saying? Is there something wrong with me or my prayer? Maybe I should pray harder or longer or maybe I’m not using the right words? Praying is not like a magical incantation, there aren't "right words" or "wrong words." Prayer is simply a conversation between a submissive Christian and his attentive Heavenly Father. Normal conversations aren't supposed to be memorized and recited, but flow from the natural discourse of our daily thoughts, needs, concerns, and activities. This is also how we talk to God! "But I'm not good enough to come before God's presence!" You're right! In and of yourself, you can't, but because of Christ's shed blood and His righteousness, we can now enter into the presence of God. Also, that is why Jesus is by his right hand making intercession for us (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25) as well as the Holy Spirit doing so from our hearts (Rom. 8:26-27).
The Bible describes at least four different problems that hinder our prayers. Let’s take a look at these:
Prayer of the Unbeliever
First things first, we cannot have access to God through prayer except through Jesus Christ, God's Son. Prayer is a privilege that we have by becoming His children. We cannot make our prayer more powerful by "meaning it" or "feeling it" more. The effectiveness of our prayer isn't tied to "feeling" any more than our salvation is tied to "feeling"; it is tied to concrete truth! The truth is that as children of God, through Christ, we have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18). Listen to what Romans 5:1-2 has to say about it: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." The only way to peace and fellowship with God is through faith in God and in Christ's shed blood for the remission of your sin. For more on how to know you are saved, follow this link: https://www.sbcverona.com/how-to-be-saved. For those who are saved and already have that access, then next problem to consider is
Unconfessed Sin
Really, we could categorize all four of these problems under this one heading, but I wanted to take a moment for us to consider sin as Christians before God. I think we have a tendency to make this hindrance to prayer of less importance than it really is. Psalm 66:8 reminds us that "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Sometimes we feel like God has put up some roadblock to our relationship with Him, when in reality, we have separated ourselves from Him by allowing sin into our lives without remorse or confession. It isn't that God has lost his ability to hear us or that we are too far gone to be helped, but that we have hindered Him by our own free will. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Nothing breaks fellowship faster between two people than for one to transgress against the other; and without confession, the rift will be remain and even widen. And so we must humble ourselves to one another and seek forgiveness to restore the relationship and open communication once more. Would you take the time now, before reading further, to humbly go before God and seek forgiveness of sin you have permitted into your life? He will forgive (1 John 1:9)! Of course, it would be hard to know if we've done wrong sometimes if we have been
Ignoring God's Word
Regardless of whether we consider ourselves to be religious or "Christians", purposely ignoring God's Word and substituting our own beliefs or morals in place of His, is evidence that we don't have an active relationship with God. We may pray, but that doesn't mean God will hear. In fact, God may even be disgusted with the prayers from someone who outrightly rejects God's Word, but still wants to maintain the image of holiness or Christianity. Proverbs 28:9 says, "He that turneth away from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." How could a prayer be disgusting to God? Let me ask you this, how much do you enjoy the flattering words of someone that you know doesn't respect you or even like you? With that answer in mind, remember that, at times, we act similarly toward God when we put on spirituality and prayers when we want something from Him while ignoring Him the rest of the time. We ask for God's will concerning the big exciting decisions while ignoring His will in our daily walk. The Bible is meant to give us clear doctrinal understanding, reproof when we are in the wrong, correction to draw us back to God's will, and instruction on Christ's righteousness in us (2 Tim. 3:16). There is another hindering problem that we may be facing today, and it is a
Refusal to Forgive
Is there something that has been done to you that you feel is unforgivable? Maybe not, but maybe you can imagine what wrong could be done to you or a loved one that you might consider unforgivable. As a husband and father, nothing will draw strong anger from me more than an attack on my family. As a pastor, I get upset when someone attacks one of my people. Maybe there is a scenario where you would have an extremely difficult time forgiving someone of their wrong doing, however, we are commanded to do so. Mark 11:25 says, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Multiple times in scripture we're reminded to forgive, love, and even pray for our enemies. Very few of us have mortal enemies though; our struggle isn't so much about forgiving someone who is trying to severely harm us, so much as it is about forgiving the petty grievances that trouble us from day to day. Those petty grievances build up bitterness in our hearts toward that person; then, because of an unknown amount of vague reasons we harbor anger, bitterness, and hatred for someone else (maybe even a fellow Christian!). Jesus told a parable in Matthew 18:21-35 about not being able to forgive others when we have been forgiven of so much more. At the end of the passage, he says, "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Petty grievances build up fast, especially in the marriage relationship. This can even hinder our prayers. I Peter 3:7 reminds us of this: "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
If you are anything like me, then you probably found yourself in more than one of these problems. Do you feel that your prayers are being hindered? If you truly are bothered by that reality, then please, take some time right now to have a genuine conversation with God about some things that have been hindering you. Confess your sins; forgive your brother; heed God's Word. Don't quit communicating with God! Talk to Him in prayer, and listen to Him through the reading of His word and the preaching of it at church. If you've been saved, it all started at the moment of salvation. If you're not sure that you are saved, let today be the day that you believe!
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