20 Reasons Why People Do Not See Their Prayer Answered
(John 16:24)
Why do you suppose that many people do not see their prayers answered? Too many people fail to appreciate some of the hindrances to prayer. Jesus said, "Up till now you have asked nothing in my name (For my sake, in my will and for the glory of God). Ask and you will receive that your joy may be made complete. (John 16:24)
The following are 20 hindrances to answered prayer that we should be mindful of in order to maximize our joy in, from and with the Lord’s answered prayers.
1. Worry - Anxiety -
Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that passes human comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6,7)
Jesus said, "The Gentiles worry about food, clothes, shelter but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well." (Matt 6:24-33)
Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but you never get anywhere.
2. Disobedience -
Micah 3:4 says, "Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done."
Lam 3:43,44 says, "We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven... You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through."
3. Doubt -
James 1:6,7 says, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
4. Selfishness -
James 4:1-4 "You do not get because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you spend it on your own pleasures."
Mark 10:45 - Even the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."
5. Wrong Motivations -
James 4:3-5 "Do you know that friendship with the world makes one an enemy with God. You ask with wrong motives that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Do you not know that each of us will be judged on the basis of our motives. Only God is able to judge the thoughts and intents of our hearts by the use of His word. (Heb. 4:12)
Allow God’s word to realign your motives with His motivations (His glory, His love and His great commission)
6. Failure to Heed God’s Law -
Prov. 28:9 says, "If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable."
Jesus said, "He who has my commandments and keeps them he it is who loves me and I will love Him and will disclose myself to him and show him things to come." (John 14:21)
7. Failure to remain in Christ -
John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me and my word abides in you ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you."
2 Pet 3:18 says, "Grow in grace and in the knowledge (intimate fellowship and communion) with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
8. Haughtiness (Pride) -
James 4:6 says "He gives us more grace. That is why the scriptures says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the Lord and He will lift you up."
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
9. Failure to follow examples of the Godly -
Paul prayed, "I pray that you would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. So that you might walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord. To please Him in all respects bearing fruit in every good work while increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all His power according to His glorious might for the obtaining of all steadfastness, patience with great joy." (Col. 1:9-11)
Paul prayed,"I pray that your love would abound in real knowledge and depth of insight so that you may approve the things that are best having been filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ for the glory of God." (Phil. 1:9-11)
10. Idolatry Hinders Prayer -
Jeremiah writes, "They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them..."I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry not to me, I will not listen to them." (Jer. 11:10,11)
11. Improper Husband-Wife Relationship -
I Pet 3:7,8 says, "Husbands in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
12. Insincerity -
Deut 4:29 says, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
13. Irreverence (Inadequate worship) -
Mal 1:7-10 says, "You place defiled food on my altar...Oh, that on eof you would shut the temple doors , so that you would not light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will accept no offering from your hands."
14. Losing Heart -
Luke 18:1-3 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
15. Praying contrary to God’s will -
I John 5:14,15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God tha if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And we know that we have the petitions because we ask according to His will."
16. Refusal to help the poor -
Prov. 21:13 says, "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."
17. Self-righteousness -
Jesus said, "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable. Two men went up to the temple to pray, The Pharisee stood up and prayed aloud, "God I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers. I fast twice a week. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God have mercy on me a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself, will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-15)
18. Unconfessed Sin -
Psalm 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me."
David wrote, "Search me O God and know my heart. Try me and see my wicked way and lead me in the way of everlasting truth." (Psa. 139:23,24)
19. Unfaithfulness -
Hos. 5:6,7 - When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord they will not find him, he has withdrawn from them. They were unfaithful to the Lord, they will give birth to illegitimate children. NOw their New Moon festivals will devour them and their fields."
20. Unforgiveness -
Jesus said, "When you stand praying, If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins." (Mark 11:25
Jesus said, "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt 6;14)
James 5:16- The fervent, effectual, energeo prayer of the righteous man avails much.
