Five (5) Prayer Blockers

God’s promises are sacred. He keeps His word without fail. So then, unless there is an impediment, He will without fail answer our prayers. His name is Faithful and Holy.

If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it. (John 14:14¹ The Amplified Bible, AMP)

In the New Testament, the simple blockers of answers to prayer include;

1. Pride:

Luke 18:9-14² reveals that two men went to pray, a publican and a Pharisee, the publican, even though a sinner, was heard and justified and the religious folk was rejected. The sins of the publican did not stop His prayers but the pride and self-righteousness of the Pharisee did.  Nothing gets in the way of prayer as much as pride does.

2. Selfishness:

James 4:3³ teaches that we ask and do not receive because we ask amiss to consume upon our lust. Selfishness usually manifest as covetousness, lust, and fear. It is told of a man praying concerning his neighbor, and says “O Lord, take away this wicked man”, then God asked “which one?”. Selfishness makes Heaven confused. Pray for our common good.

3. Doubt:

James 1:6⁴ reveals that a man who doubts is like the waves of the sea, he is tossed to-and-fro, and then it adds that that man should not even think he shall receive anything from God. Doubt steals faith which is the drive to be importunate.

4. Unforgiveness:

Matthew 6:9⁵ and reading onward teaches that when we forgive others we obtain forgiveness, hence access to God’s full attention when we pray

5. Spousal abuse:

The last prayer blocker is spousal abuse. (See 1 Peter 3:7⁶)

I speak over your life that nothing shall stop your prayers from today. Heaven will hear! Heaven will answer, before you call He will answer. We will know the joy of answered prayer in everyday living, in Jesus’ name!

Amen!

Referenced Scriptures

1. John 14:14 (KJV): If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ↩︎
2. Luke 18:9-14 (KJV): And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. ↩︎
3. James 4:3 (KJV): Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ↩︎
4. James 1:6 (KJV): 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. ↩︎
5. Matthew 6:9 (KJV): After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ↩︎
6. 1 Peter 3:7 (KJV): 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. ↩︎