Hindrances to Prayer

Pr Martha Suubi
10-09-2017

1) Corrupt our own tongues. The tongue is powerful.

Ecclesiastes 7:15New International Version (NIV)
15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

Proverbs 13:3New International Version (NIV)
3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 18:21New International Version (NIV)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Mark 11:12-14New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”And his disciples heard him say it.

1 Samuel 17:26New International Version (NIV)
26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

I am shaped by the Word of God. Learn to speak the Word.

Take care of the words of our mouth. Don't be found with our corrupt tongues.

2) Casual with the things of God.

Mark 9:28-29New International Version (NIV)
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

1 Samuel 3:18New International Version (NIV)
18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

Let God do as He wishes. 

Some situations may not have an answer and require someone to pay a price in prayer.

Do not have a lackadaisical attitude. 

Be ready to pay a price. That should be our attitude. Do not have a selfish attitude.

Be willing to pay a price for God to change your story.

Arise and take a stand and position because we have the power in Jesus' name.

Serious challenges demand serious prayer.

Will God find a vessel in you to turn around your family and situation?

3) Not yielding to the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16-18New International Version (NIV)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Embrace the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

The Holy Spirit is a person.

He is your companion. He is willing to help you.

Surrender to the Holy Spirit and let Him have His way. Engage Him in our prayer lives and He will speak the mind of God to us.

Learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

4) Inconsistency. Make up your mind to be consistent.
God is consistent in His nature. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The devil is not consistent in his character but he is consistent in his pursuit.

Daniel 6:10New International Version (NIV)
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his kneesand prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Set a consistent time of prayer.

Be doers of the Word.