TUESDAY October 12, 2021
Hindrances to Prayer
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
Psalm 66:18
God will not answer prayer if a person is willfully living a life of sin. Some sins are obvious, but what about hidden sins within a person’s heart? Unforgiveness is a sin before God; it will hinder prayer. If a person harbors hate in their heart, how can God answer their prayers? How can He forgive them?
Forgive the person that has wronged you, and let the Lord take care of the situation. Make sure that your heart is right before God. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, taught His disciples:
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Disunity will hinder a believer’s prayers. We need to be in unity with other believers both in prayer and as we serve alongside each other:
“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. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20).
Unity is also necessary for a successful marriage. A husband and wife are to be seen as heirs together of the grace of life. Interestingly, within a marriage relationship, if a husband is not treating his wife with love and understanding, his prayers will be hindered:
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them [wives] with understanding, giving honor 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 (1 Peter 3:7).
What is hindering your prayers? Do not let unforgiveness or any other sin become an obstacle to your prayer life. What actions will you take to make your heart right before God?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
~Psalm 51:10~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!