articlesforchristians

Overcoming Hindrances to Prayer: Key Insights

Hinder (meaning)

• To Impede the progress of 
• To Hold back
• To Obstruct or Block

9 Hindrances to Prayer

1. We ask amiss
   1. James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
   2. Amiss (meaning)
      1. Wrongly
      2. astray (off the right path or route)
      3. Imperfectly
      4. out of place
   3. Amiss (in Greek)
      1. Amiss (G2560) kakōs- Adverb form from G2556, badly (physically or morally):—amiss, diseased, evil, grievously, miserably, sick, sore.
   4. Key Truth #1 “Pray the Word”
      1. Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
2. Unforgiveness
   1. Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
   2. The Parable of the unforgiving servant
      1. Matthew 18:21-35
   3. Key Truth #2 “Walk in Forgiveness”
      1. Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have 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.
3. Pride
   1. Psalm 138:6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
   2. Proud: H1364gāḇōha
      1. (fully) from H1361; elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant:—haughty, height, high(-er), lofty, proud, × exceeding proudly.
   3. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
      1. Boldly does not mean demanding with an attitude of pride and arrogance. 
   4. Key Truth #3 “Pray with Humility”
      1. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
4. Sin and Iniquity
   1. Isaiah 59:1-4 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, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
   2. Key Truth #4 “Confession”
      1. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
      2. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
5. Bitterness
   1. Hebrews 12:12-15 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
   2. Bitterness:
      1. Poison
      2. Corrosive
      3. Sharp and bitter in taste and odor
   3. Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
   4. Key Truth #5 “Guard Your Heart”
      1. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
6. Unbelief
   1. James 1:5-8 if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
   2. Key Truth #6 “Let Jesus Hear and See your faith”
      1. Mark 2:2-5  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
      2. Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
7. Improper Relationships
   1. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
      1. Honour (G5092) a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself:—honour, precious, price, some.
      2. Hindered (G1581) from G1537 and G2875; to exscind; figuratively, to frustrate:—cut down (off, out), hew down, hinder.
   2. Key Truth #7 “Maintain Proper Relationships”
8. Uncontrolled and Undisciplined Thoughts
   1. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
   2. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
   3. Key Truth #8 “Think on these Things…”
      1. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 
      2. Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
9. We give up too Easy
   1. The Woman with the flow of blood
      1. Mark 5:24-34
   2. The Parable of the Persistent Widow
      1. Luke 18:1-8
   3. Key Truth #9 “Trust in God’s Timing”
      1. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.