Hindered Prayers
Hindered Prayers
by Dr. Paul Chappell
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:22
God has given us the great privilege of coming to Him in prayer regarding every part of our lives. The Bible is filled with promises regarding God's willingness to hear and answer our prayers. Again and again we are told that He will respond when we pray. Yet all of us have also had the experience of praying and not seeing an answer. While there are cases where this is simply a matter of timing and God knowing when the answer would be best, there are also times when the lack of a response is the direct result of sin in our lives. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
We don't earn God's favor by doing good things or avoiding bad things. He places us in His family because of His grace alone. Yet just as a disobedient child does not stop being a child because of that disobedience, the relationship and fellowship with the parents is definitely impacted by behavior. John R. Rice wrote, “Every Christian certainly has a right to pray [about] matters about which God has declared in His Word that He is concerned, and which He is anxious to give us; and yet Christians often do not get the answer to their prayers. Why? The answer is that many a good prayers cannot be answered by a holy God because of sins in the life and heart of the one who prays.”
As we seek God's face and His help in prayer, we should consider the health of our relationship with Him. If we're living in disobedience to Him, we should repent and surrender. David, aware of God's knowledge of and care for him, prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). This is a good prayer for us as well.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:22
God has given us the great privilege of coming to Him in prayer regarding every part of our lives. The Bible is filled with promises regarding God's willingness to hear and answer our prayers. Again and again we are told that He will respond when we pray. Yet all of us have also had the experience of praying and not seeing an answer. While there are cases where this is simply a matter of timing and God knowing when the answer would be best, there are also times when the lack of a response is the direct result of sin in our lives. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
We don't earn God's favor by doing good things or avoiding bad things. He places us in His family because of His grace alone. Yet just as a disobedient child does not stop being a child because of that disobedience, the relationship and fellowship with the parents is definitely impacted by behavior. John R. Rice wrote, “Every Christian certainly has a right to pray [about] matters about which God has declared in His Word that He is concerned, and which He is anxious to give us; and yet Christians often do not get the answer to their prayers. Why? The answer is that many a good prayers cannot be answered by a holy God because of sins in the life and heart of the one who prays.”
As we seek God's face and His help in prayer, we should consider the health of our relationship with Him. If we're living in disobedience to Him, we should repent and surrender. David, aware of God's knowledge of and care for him, prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). This is a good prayer for us as well.
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