The Evangelist Speaks

by Evangelist Carolyn Griffin

Hindrances to Answered Prayer

How often do we hear someone say, “I prayed and God didn’t answer”? We say that we prayed according to His Word and nothing happened. Sometimes we receive answers and don’t even realize it. Often we fail to accept answers when they are not what we desire or expect. If we have met His conditions for answered prayer, we must accept the Sovereignty of God in these instances, and take comfort in knowing that He has a plan and a purpose for us in all things. But quite often, our answers to prayers are hindered because of things in our lives that we need to overcome. Today, as we continue our prayer journey, we will focus on three of the hindrances to answered prayer. We will cover others in part 2. 

Sin  Often we minimize the serious effects of sin in our lives. We feel that if we call it a “little white lie” or “slightly wrong” or “unethical”, it’s not really sin. We’ll say it’s not adultery, murder, or steeling, it’s just a little gossip, envy, or jealously. Whatever we call it, sin is sin, and it separates us from God and His answers to our prayers. Psalms 66:18 states, if I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me. All sin, including sins in our heart, though not outwardly seen by man, but discerned by the Spirit, hinder answers to our prayers. Isaiah 59:1-4 brings great clarity to the sin issue. 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. For your hands are defiled with blood, and you fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleaded for truth: They trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 

Unforgiveness  The Model Prayer tells us to ask God to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. Jesus continued in Matthew 6:14-15 by telling us that if we forgive men when they sin against us, that our heavenly Father will also forgive us. However, if we do not forgive men their sins, our Father will not forgive our sins. When we hold

onto unforgiveness, we hold onto our sins. Since our sins separate us from God, our prayers go unanswered when we refuse to forgive. Mark 11:24-26 explains to us the necessity of forgiveness before praying. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.  

 Unbelief   Hebrews 11:6 states, and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Looking again to Mark 11, we find further instructions from Jesus.  Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. We must trust God and believe His Word.  The opposite of faith is unbelief, a great hindrance to answered prayer.

 Let us turn from our sins, seek God’s forgiveness as we forgive, and always ask the Lord, to help our unbelief.                    Next time…..Part 2.