Prayer (1)

'...So that nothing will hinder your prayers.' 1 Peter 3:7 NIV

I love this picture of Avory here at a men's prayer breakfast. Just so you know I'm not picking on Avory in any way, He's quite content to sleep as we pray. His dad brought him along and I was so thankful he came. But our prayer lives can become like one sleeping through the process, or be hindered by things in our lives and we not even know it. Here are two hindrances to answered prayer I want to look at today: (1) Unconfessed sin. 'Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.' (Isaiah 59:2 NIV) As a believer, God expects you to walk in obedience. 'What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' (Micah 6:8 NIV) Notice, these are 'requirements.' If you don't meet them you're wasting your time praying, unless it's a prayer of repentance. You must seek God's forgiveness, and then He will hear your prayers. (2) Unresolved conflict. 'Husbands...be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect...so that nothing will hinder your prayers.' There's no point praying if you are always fighting with one another. 'Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.' (1 John 2:9 NIV) God will answer when you come out into the light, deal with the thing that drove you apart, and attempt to mend the relationship. Now, sometimes it isn't possible to make amends. 'If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.' (Romans 12:18 NIV) Sometimes the other person would rather keep the issue alive than accept your apology. When that happens, look into your heart. Do you really want restoration, or would you rather place blame and let things fester? If your attempts have been wholehearted and honest, God won't let a broken relationship stand in the way of your prayers. But if your attempts have been half-hearted and self-serving, try again - this time for real. You are loved...