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Hindrances to Prayer

Building a successful prayer life post series [James 5:16]
So prayer is a communication with God and a spiritual warfare and is always an effective spiritual exercise; hence effective prayer. However there are stumbling blocks which could make one’s prayers ineffective (or seem a waste) despite the commitment and persistence. We’ll consider those hindrances as given in the bible.
  • Iniquity – Sin is the primary hindrance to prayer. Psalms 66:18; ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me’. The scripture of study (James 5:16) specifies ‘…of a righteous man…’
  • Broken (disunited) marriages is a hindrance to prayer. 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.’
    So, YES, your relationship with your spouse counts.
  • Idolatry creates a stumbling block between you and God. Ezekiel 14:3; ‘Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?’.
    An idol is anything that takes first place in your life. It could be your body, a TV program, work, anything. God detests idolatry – First commandment (Exodus 20:3).
  • Unforgiveness is a hindrance. Mark 11: 25; ‘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.’
  • Hard-heartedness towards the poor. Proverbs 21:13; ‘Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.’
Once you have gotten rid of these hindrances, (with the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit) you fight against the enemy and by the promises of God (Leviticus 26:7-8) victory is yours.
Remain forever blessed.
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