Unhindered Prayer

“That nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:7 NIV

“God is not ignoring you; He may be  just waiting for you to trust His will and want His way.”

My thoughts today are about “unhindered prayer.”

Can you imagine anything worse than seeming to be ignored, especially if you are talking to God? But I think that a lot of people needlessly feel that way about prayer; maybe you have at some time. For some, prayer just doesn’t seem to work. It is not a good thing when God doesn’t hear your prayers, but apparently it is a possibility.

Prayer was never meant to be a matter of talking to yourself. That may have the side benefit of being psychologically therapeutic, but is not what prayer is all about. If you alone are both speaker and hearer, you might as well just journal in a diary. Prayer is a holy discourse, not a monologue. Learn to listen as well. “In everything, by prayer with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:7 NKJV. Come before God with a humble, thankful heart.

What might hinder God from hearing your prayers? Consider this; prayer must have a higher and greater purpose than just informing God of your laundry list of wants and needs. That would just be wasting yours and God’s time? A God that can answer prayer certainly knows your needs better than you do. Jesus said, “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:8 NLT.

Perhaps you have been intent on only giving God specific instructions as to what you want Him to do for you, and how and when you expect that to happen. Might not that be a bit presumptuous? That could hinder your prayer. Prayer is not demanding that God meet your expectations in exactly that way that most suits you. When you don’t get the desired response, you might assume He has not heard you, though He has. He’s not ignoring you; He is just waiting for you to trust His will and way.

In such cases, I am not sure that God hasn’t heard your prayers as much as the possibility that you have not prayed a prayer that God can answer. The Bible says, “This is the confidence that we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NIV. The clearer you are about His will and the more surrendered you are to that, the more confident you become in your praying. Wanting your way without submission to His will would hinder your prayers.

There are some other factors to answered prayer. Here’s some wise and clear counsel from the Bible, “Men (should) pray everywhere, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8 NKJV. “The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective . . for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to the  prayer (of the righteous), but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” James 5:16 /1 Peter 3:12 NIV. “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22 NKJV. See Hebrews 11:6 NLT.

My prayer for you today is that your communication with God be true and free, and your prayers unhindered.