What things can be hindrances to prayer?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Although as God’s children we can come to Him at all times in prayer because of Jesus bridging the gap between us and God (Hebrews 4:14-16), there are certainly spiritual issues that can hinder our prayers in the sense of them being answered by God in the way we desire. The main issue is unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18), which can extend to things like idolatry (Ezekiel 14:3; Exodus 20:3), unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14–15; 21–35; 33–34), and disobedience in following God’s instructions on marriage (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:22–24). As believers, we have been given a new identity that is not marked by sin (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:13–14; Ephesians 1:7), yet as we live on this earth we still have our sin nature we must wage war against. Thankfully, if we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us (1 John 1:9). Other issues that can hinder our prayers are unbelief (James 1:6–7) and selfish motives (James 4:1–4). Something we must do continually in prayer is seek God’s will over our own (Luke 22:42), and ask for things in complete faith that if it is within His will, God will carry out our request (Matthew 8:8; 1 John 5:14). Spiritual warfare may also negatively impact our prayer life, but we are called to remain steadfast in the Lord during such times, as the prophet Daniel exemplified in Daniel 10.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Unconfessed sin can create a hindrance in our prayer life. In Psalm 66:18 we read: "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” We must choose confession over holding on to our sin.
• When we make other gods or things a priority in our life before God it interferes with our prayer life (Ezekiel 14:3). It clearly states in the Ten Commandments, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Each time the Israelites chose to worship other gods, God chose to not listen to their prayers until they repented. When they repented, however, He restored their nation.
• Daniel faced much spiritual warfare when God was speaking to him about the end times. Nonetheless, Daniel continued in prayer and fasted until he heard from God again (Daniel 10). Persistence, fasting, praying in the spirit, and praying in community are all ways to pray effectively in the midst of spiritual warfare.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Our sin causes us to live according to our fleshly desires and not by the Spirit. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we become a new creation and our sins are forgiven (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:13–14; Ephesians 1:7). However, we still live in the world and in our human bodies; consequently, we will continue to be tempted and to sin. Yet 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
• As humans we are very selfish, and our prayer life is no exception. Often we pray solely for things that we want without regard to God's will or the needs of other people (James 4:1–4). While it is not bad to ask God for things we desire, we should always pray in God's will, following Jesus' example (1 John 5:14; Luke 22:42). With this mindset, we will begin to understand the bigger picture of what God is doing in the world and how our individual lives are a part of that plan.
• In Matthew 6:14–15 Jesus says, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." A few chapters later Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21–35). Based off this passage, we should not expect God to answer our prayers, particularly for relational forgiveness, if we ourselves are not willing to forgive. By forgiving others, and also forgiving ourselves, we free ourselves from bitterness and seek God to be the Judge, revealing our trust in Him.
• Doubt in God's ability to answer our prayers is a hindrance (James 1:6–7) because prayer requires faith. When we pray, we are acknowledging that God is capable of answering our prayer. We submitting to His will and understand that He may or may not choose to answer the prayer the way we want Him to. Nonetheless, we should pray believing that God can and will answer according to His will. A great example of such faith is demonstrated by the Roman centurion who believed Jesus could heal his servant simply with His word and without having to come into his house (Matthew 8:8).
• Paul tells us that conflict in a marriage can impede our prayer life. This is due to a lack of obedience in how we should act towards one another. He encourages husbands and wives to love and respect one another in obedience to God so that they can have a healthy prayer life (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:22–24).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Prayer is a privilege granted to all who are children of God. Jesus told His followers, "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). Prayer is an incredible tool God has given us so that we may communicate personally and build an intimate relationship with Him. Prayer empowers us to talk directly with God, worshiping His sovereignty, praising Him for His blessings, getting to know Him better, sharing our heart with Him, and asking Him to fulfill our desires and needs.

If we are struggling in an area that is hindering our prayers, we can confess it to God and ask Him to lead us to better paths: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). While there are things that can hinder our prayers, we can overcome them with God’s help. When we realize that something is hindering our prayer life, we must confess our sins and repent. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we should take whatever steps we need to eliminate anything that comes in between us and God. By doing so, we restore our fellowship with God and leave open the doors of communication that allow us to seek Him and live as His children in the world.

UNDERSTAND

REFLECT

• How might unconfessed sin or unforgiveness be affecting your own prayer life, and what steps can you take to address it?
• How do selfish motives or doubt limit the depth and effectiveness of your prayers?
• How can you actively seek God’s will over your own desires when praying for personal or others’ needs?

ENGAGE

• How do unconfessed sin and unforgiveness impact our prayer life, and what can we do to overcome it?
• What strategies or practices are helpful in overcoming spiritual hindrances to prayer?
• How does understanding that prayer requires faith, repentance, and praying according to God’s will shape the way we pray individually and as a community?