I remember it well. I had just spent what seemed like hours praying. It was probably more like five minutes, but for a kid my age, that was a long time. As I got up weary from my time of intercession, my granny looked at me and asked in a way that only Gran could, “Do you think your prayers made it to the ceiling?”
I cannot begin to tell you how many times since that day I have wondered the same thing. Has anyone besides Lisa Marshall ever felt like your prayers weren’t going anywhere? You pray and nothing happens. You remind God that you belong to Him and the Bible says to “Ask and ye shall receive” (As if He didn’t already know) still, nothing. What do you do?
What if your car wouldn’t start? You turned the key and nothing happened. Do you keep doing this for days or do you try to find the problem? You can turn the key all day every day, but if there is a mechanical problem, you will be sitting in the same place a year later getting the same result. Would it not make sense to have a mechanic look at it and find what is wrong?
Keep in mind God’s timing isn’t always our timing. Actually, I have found God’s time is very seldom my timing, but He’s God and He’s good at it, so I will trust Him. There are times it “isn’t time” and there are times it “isn’t working”. If it “isn’t working”, here are a few things that may be hindering your prayers.
- Not Fellowshipping with God
To fellowship means to partner or spend time with. Why would God answer prayers of someone who never speaks to Him? An example is a friend vs. a total stranger asking you to borrow $100. If a close friend asked, you would probably give it to them – but if a stranger asked, you would be less likely to do so. What if I pledged my loyalty and love to you and then we left church and I refused to speak to you all week. We went back to church on Wednesday and I did the same thing, yet when we left, nothing but silence all week. You tried to talk to me and I ignored you. You wanted to spend time with me but I refused your request. After a few times of this, how much confidence would you have it my words? We say, “God, I will do anything you ask.” He’d better ask on a Sunday or Wednesday or many will never hear the question.
- Not Asking According to God’s Will
God won’t answer a prayer that’s against His will – even if you have faith. For example: “God would you let lightening strike that person who cut me off in traffic!.”
- Not having God’s Word in You
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.” Reading the Bible is important. You may even get the answer you need from God – after all, it is His Word.
- Doubt & Unbelief
James 1:5-8 says to ask God in faith without doubting for your request to be fulfilled.
- Not praying in Jesus’ Name
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name.” Colossians 3:7
- Not Asking or Asking with Wrong Motives
If you don’t ask, your prayers won’t be answered for sure. Don’t pray selfishly. God wants more than your grocery list. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” (amiss defined as wrongly) James 4:3
- Giving Up
Luke 18:1 says to “pray and faint not”. We must be persistent even if it looks impossible. Don’t give up; the next prayer may bring the answer.
- Unforgiveness
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your father will forgive yours.” Matthew 6:14
- Unconfessed Sin
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” You may hide sin from others, but you can’t hide it from God.
Now that this is out of the way, try the key again.
Hindrances to Prayer
