Prayer seems to be the first thing that falls away in the life of a Christian. Often this is due to the fact that we feel it is ineffective as if we could be more productive doing other things. However, the exact opposite is true. Prayer is the fuel that drives the church, that moves the hand of God and that empowers the believer to holiness and great things.
When our prayers seem ineffective we must first do some self-examination. Below are the scriptures that teach us what hinders our prayer life and causes our prayers from finding effectiveness. Notice none of the biblical reasons is God’s fault, they are always our fault.
Examine these scriptures and see if any of these situations are true in our lives and repent of them and reestablish the pipeline of power in your life.
Psalm 66:18 Cherished Sin
“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
Matthew 6:5 Pride of Relationship
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
James 4:3 Our Love for Material Pleasure
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
James 1:5,6 Lack of Earnestness
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
1 Peter 3:7 Neglect of Fulfilling Our Role
“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Proverbs 21:13 Neglect of Helping Others
“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”