Prayer is communicating with God. Pray brings one into relationship with God and comes out of that relationship; therefore, certain elements in the life of a Christian that can hinder prayers. For our prayers to be productive, we should consider these five areas.
1) Prayers may be hindered if you regard known sin in your life. When you regard sin in your life sin can become an idol and take the place of God. This happens because one’s insistence upon disobedience.
Psalms 66:18 – If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Proverbs 28:9 – If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
2) Prayers may be hindered if you asked selfishly.
James 4:3 – When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
3) Prayers may be hindered if you pray in unbelief.
James 1:6-8 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
4) Prayers may be hindered if one dishonors his spouse.
1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
5) Prayers may be hindered if you leave unresolved conflict.
Matthew 5:23-24 – Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
God has called you to a service of prayer. The discipline of prayer is most rewarded with answered prayer and time spent with God. When people see their prayers answered, they are motivated to pray. May God reveal to you the vital importance of your life in prayer.
About the Author:
Glenn Shaffer is the author of Apostolic Government in the 21st Century, Christianity 101 and Discipleship 201. He has a Masters of Ministry degree in leadership studies from Southwestern Christian University and is working toward a Doctorate in Ministry at ORU in Tulsa.
Glenn and his wife, Ami have been married for 40 years with two sons, Matt and Daniel. Together, they co-see the elder pastoral care of Destiny Life Church, one church in two locations (Owasso and Claremore, Oklahoma) where they have been serving for almost 4 decades. It is a non-denominational church, based on a New Testament Apostolic form of church government. Together, they also serve as the directors of ATI- Apostolic Teams International, an emerging network of churches and ministers.
GLENN SHAFFER 